If there is a breakout film character in 2025, it is unquestionably Gladys, the villain of Zach Cregger’s second characteristic movie “Weapons” performed by the unbelievable — and, till now, wholly underutilized — Amy Madigan. Madigan, who’s in any other case identified for “Area of Desires” and a recurring function on “Gray’s Anatomy,” is now firmly within the highlight due to Gladys, who — spoiler alert! — is a few type of probably historic witch who invades a city and makes use of its residents as human juice bins to revive her vitality. Due to her totally distinctive and garish look consisting of vivid, smeared lipstick, a weird crimson wig with child bangs, and mismatched garments, Gladys has turn into one of many extra recognizable horror characters in latest reminiscence, nevertheless it’s Madigan’s unimaginable efficiency that brings the weird horror to life.
In response to a profile in The Hollywood Reporter, although, Madigan was on the verge of quitting appearing totally earlier than Cregger, fortunately, noticed match to forged her in “Weapons.” As her husband and fellow business veteran, Ed Harris, advised interviewer David Canfield, “There was a protracted time period the place she actually did not work in any respect, or little or no. She was contemplating simply stopping and giving up on it.”
Madigan then chimed in, telling Canfield that typically individuals would confront her about her profession within the wild. “To illustrate I might be within the airport and somebody acknowledged me — they’d go, ‘Oh, are you continue to appearing?’ or ‘So what are you doing? Did you surrender appearing?’ ” Madigan recalled. “These sorts of questions, simply straight out!”
Then, fortunately, “Weapons” got here alongside and altered every little thing for Madigan virtually in a single day. “I used to be telling all people, ‘Hey, I will play this actually wild girl,'” Madigan shared. “Then it got here out, and it became one thing else.”
Weapons is likely one of the finest horror films of the 12 months — due to Aunt Gladys
All through the profile, Amy Madigan advised David Canfield that she did perceive that, as a personality actor, she won’t be thought of for comparatively understated or typical roles. “I perceive that I am not the main girl — I am a personality actor, and I like doing issues with my physique,” Madigan mused. “Possibly that was complicated to individuals, or what they had been searching for was not me.”
To that time, she apparently advised Ed Harris, earlier than getting “Weapons,” that she felt like individuals had “retired” her, to which Harris stated, “Simply wait. One thing goes to return your manner that is going to get you every little thing that you just want.” He was actually proper! Zach Cregger, who beforehand stated that “Weapons” would not work with out Madigan as Gladys, knew immediately that he needed to forged her. Not solely was he a longtime fan of her work, however he simply sensed that she was excellent for the function.
“Every time she was onscreen, I used to be type of dazzled — and I by no means actually obtained why she wasn’t all over,” Cregger says of Madigan’s physique of labor. “So when her title got here up, there was no draw back. I used to be like, ‘She will do it. She’s superb. She simply matches proper in.'” The 2 of them mentioned the function over lunch, and he tried to play it cool earlier than mainly providing her the function on the spot.
Nonetheless, it wasn’t a positive factor immediately, regardless of Cregger’s pleasure. “Zach wasn’t positive if the powers that be needed any person with an even bigger title,” Harris revealed to Canfield. “Amy was actually affected person. She actually needed to play this character.” The remaining, as they are saying, is historical past.
The function of Gladys has given Amy Madigan an astounding second act already
Not solely is Gladys a task that, in a simply world, would earn Amy Madigan an Oscar nomination, she’s additionally an Web sensation. Simply search “Gladys Weapons” on TikTok or Instagram Reels and watch completely different comedians in smeared lipstick and vivid garments spoof the character. Madigan is not on-line, however Zach Cregger is: “I am going to name her each every so often, and I will be like, ‘Amy, are you conscious of what is going on on?’ She’s like, ‘No! Inform me.'”
Madigan additionally spoke to the truth that the queer neighborhood has wholeheartedly embraced Gladys as a camp icon. “As you very nicely know, the homosexual neighborhood has actually taken to Gladys,” Madigan stated proudly. “That is actually nice — particularly on this framework of the demonization of anyone apart from a cis particular person — for the trans neighborhood. I feel they actually respect Gladys’ drag and make-up and the way assured she is. In order that’s a very nice cherry on prime of all this.”
In the end, Madigan is simply happy that folks just like the film — and that new alternatives are, apparently, coming her manner. As Harris revealed to Canfield, “She’s been provided a few issues already that she’s stated no [to], that she simply did not need to do. She has all the time been actually selective, not that she’s had that a lot to select from. I hope that she will get some nice alternatives sooner or later.”
Madigan confirmed that, saying, “Folks have already reached out, like, ‘Right here it’s, we would like you,’ in varied varieties. That is completely different in a manner that feels new.” That is genuinely-earned, and as an enormous fan of Madigan who liked her in “Weapons,” I actually hope we see much more of this commemorated actress as quickly as potential.
