The George Harrison Song Sets the Mood for 2025’s Creepiest Film, Weapons

The new mystery-horror film Weapons made a powerful box office debut over the weekend, pulling in an estimated $42.5 million and outperforming the comedy Freakier Friday, which opened with $29 million. Written and directed by Zach Cregger (Barbarian), the film stars Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, and Alden Ehrenreich and centers on the baffling disappearance of 17 children who leave their homes in the middle of the night—seemingly drawn by an invisible force.

The eerie opening sequence of the film shows the children silently exiting their houses at 2:17 a.m., as described on the film’s official poster:

“Last night at 2:17 a.m. every child from Mrs. Gandy’s class woke up, got out of bed, went downstairs, opened the front door, walked into the dark … And they never came back.”

This surreal moment is soundtracked by a hauntingly appropriate song: George Harrison’s “Beware of Darkness.”

The Song That Sets the Tone

Far from a random needle drop, Harrison’s “Beware of Darkness” doesn’t just underscore the scene—it deepens it. The song, which opens the second disc of his 1970 triple album All Things Must Pass, blends spiritual insight with an unsettling, melancholic mood that aligns perfectly with Weapons’ themes of fear, illusion, and the unknown.

Lines like “Beware of the thoughts that linger / Winding up inside your head / The hopelessness around you / In the dead of night / Beware of sadness” mirror the creeping dread that defines the film’s atmosphere.

Spiritual Roots and a Warning Against Illusion

Written during a spiritually transformative period in Harrison’s life, “Beware of Darkness” draws heavily on Hindu philosophy. In particular, the song references “Maya,” a Sanskrit term for illusion or the deceptive nature of the material world. At the time, Harrison had welcomed members of the Radha Krishna Temple to live and work at his Friar Park estate, helping him restore the property and cultivate a spiritual environment.

In his 1980 memoir I, Me, Mine, Harrison wrote:

“‘Beware of Darkness’ was written at home in England during a period when I had some of my friends from the Radha Krishna Temple staying: ‘Watch out for Maya.’ The lyrics are self-explanatory.”

The song’s structure—slow, meditative, and haunting—serves as both a caution and a call to consciousness, warning listeners to remain aware of internal and external illusions that can cloud one’s path.

A Classic Track Finds a New Audience

Though revered by longtime Beatles and Harrison fans, “Beware of Darkness” has never had the mainstream visibility of some of his other solo works—until now. Thanks to Weapons’ high-profile release, a new generation of moviegoers is encountering the track for the first time, recontextualized through a modern lens of horror and mystery.

And while the song may seem like a throwback, its emotional core—mourning, confusion, caution—is timeless. Just like the film it helps open, “Beware of Darkness” leaves a lingering sense of unease that’s hard to shake.