Aunt Gladys from 'Weapons' Becomes Viral Sensation, Inspires Drag Performances

In the two months since the release of the indie horror film 'Weapons' on August 8th, 2025, the character of Aunt Gladys has taken on a life of her own. Played by actress Amy Madigan, Gladys is a sinister, lipstick-smeared old lady who performs a ritual to turn her victims into lifeless puppets.

Much to the delight of the film's director, Zach Cregger, drag queens have started embracing the Gladys persona, a development he had hoped for. Cregger reveals that the character's origins stem from a script he had shelved years ago, about a child trying to escape the oppression of a crazy woman who had subsumed his parents. When writing 'Weapons', Cregger incorporated this idea, blending it with inspiration from the non-fiction book 'The Serpent and the Rainbow' and the Mekons song "Dancing in the Head".

Cregger worked closely with the production designer to craft Gladys' ritual, ensuring it was simple yet impactful. The final sequence, which sees Gladys fleeing from a horde of hexed children, was a particular highlight, with Madigan performing all her own stunts. Cregger was willing to invest his own money to make the scene as over-the-top and memorable as possible, and the result has clearly resonated with audiences.