It is not often that a horror film manages to have audiences clutching their armrests during the movie and still shivering during the credits, but Weapons has done precisely that. Released in 2025, the Zach Cregger-directed tale of witchcraft, possession, and psychological ruin enthralled viewers from its opening spell to its closing scar. The end sequence, featuring the brutal dismantling of Gladys by the very children she once enslaved, left a lingering chill that carried into the lobby, and perhaps into therapy, which is why the revelation of its creative influence is all the more fascinating.

Zach Cregger has now disclosed that David Fincher was the invisible architect shaping the film’s unforgettable moments.

While speaking to Variety, filmmaker Zach Cregger credited David Fincher with significantly shaping Weapons during both preparation and post-production despite not being a part of the film. “He was available to me during prep, and then he was very available during the post process,” Cregger stated, noting that Fincher’s feedback was “really constructive” and came with “a ton of ideas.” According to the director, the acclaimed filmmaker not only offered guidance but also changed the way he approached the editing process itself.

Cregger explained that during the making of Barbarian, certain creative limitations felt unavoidable, but Fincher’s perspective altered that mindset entirely. “Dave’s attitude is, ‘It can always be better, and there are a lot of tools that you have at your disposal,’” Cregger shared. From reframing to stabilization to ADR, the veteran director introduced Cregger to techniques he had not fully considered, resulting in a more refined and impactful final cut.

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Whether in the realm of creative vision or performance craft, David Fincher has managed to captivate audiences, Zach Cregger included.

David Fincher’s influence on modern Hollywood storytelling has been both wide-reaching and enduring, shaping the visual and tonal identities of countless projects. His work on films such as Se7en and The Social Network redefined how mood and pacing could be used as narrative devices. Beyond directing, Fincher has inspired a generation of filmmakers through his meticulous approach to framing and lighting. The symbolic and iconic openings of Ozark which he helped conceptualize, have become a template for atmospheric television design.

Fincher’s legacy is visible in the works of directors who openly cite his precision-driven style as an influence. Denis Villeneuve has acknowledged the impact of Fincher’s tightly controlled tension on his own thrillers, while television creators like Beau Willimon have adopted his restrained, shadow-heavy compositions in political dramas such as House of Cards. From music videos to high-profile streaming projects, Fincher’s fingerprints can be traced in the emphasis on psychological realism and finely tuned visual storytelling.

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Were you surprised when David Fincher's name appeared in the end credits of Weapons? Let us know in the comments down below!