The Craftsmen Behind 'Weapons' Analyze Gladys' Red Lipstick and Their Vision for a Prequel: 'Underneath Required a Fierce Edge'

From the moment her striking copper-red hair stands out in an elementary school setting, Aunt Gladys, played by Amy Madigan, captivates viewers in Zach Creggers Weapons. The story unfolds around the mysterious disappearance of 17 children from Justine Gandys (Julia Garner) classroom, keeping audiences guessing until the third act, when Gladys is introduced as Alex Lillys (Cary Christopher) aunt. In the small town of Maybrook, as the search for the missing children intensifies, it is revealed that Gladys has been siphoning their energy to sustain herself, keeping their bodies hidden in Alexs basement.

To craft Aunt Gladys appearance as she visibly ages without the childrens energy, special makeup effects designer Jason Collins drew inspiration from 1960s photography, studying works by Diane Arbus and Cindy Sherman. We wanted her look to feel like your aunt visiting Florida in the 60s, Collins explained, emphasizing the period authenticity.

Collins also designed prosthetics to highlight the hidden ferocity beneath Gladys rimmed glasses. Her appearance needed to convey a predatory presence. We adjusted her profile, created a subtle beak, narrowed her pupils, and modified the gumline to reveal the teeths nubs. It transformed her into a hunter focusing on her victims, he said.

Makeup designer Leo Satkovich focused on Gladys signature red lips, ensuring they complemented the films cinematography. Zach and Larkin created custom LUTs for the movie to enhance oranges and reds. We experimented with shades until we found the perfect balance. The final choice was MAC Retro Matte in Ruby Woo, with a blue undertone to make the colors stand out against her mid-century robins egg blue eyeshadow and bold eyeliner, Satkovich detailed.

Hair department head Melizah Wheat, recently nominated for a Critics Choice award alongside Collins and Satkovich, crafted multiple wigs to shape Gladys silhouette throughout Maybrook. We had one to four wigs for different scenes and three rotating during nightmare sequences. Adjusting the hair color helped the character pop even in dark lighting, Wheat noted.

With an Aunt Gladys prequel in discussion, the team shared their imaginative ideas for her backstory. Satkovich envisioned Gladys as a Pan Am flight attendant in 1968, stationed in Boca Raton, which inspired her iconic look.

Author: Aiden Foster