Ever since Zach Cregger’s Weapons released in theaters last week, viewers have been dissecting every frame of the movie. It is filled with details that could explain certain aspects of the story. The two most notable details are the symbols on Gladys’ bell—a triangle and the number 6— and the number 217, which appears a lot in the movie.
Here’s what the symbols on Gladys’ bell could mean, and why the number 217 is so symbolic.
What does the triangle and 6 symbol on Gladys’ bell mean in Weapons?
Gladys is a witch who uses dark magic to place people under her influence. She uses the bell as the final step to complete her spell. It is a small golden bell with a triangle and the number 6 on its side. The movie does not explain what those symbols mean, but there are theories about what they could mean.
In Weapons, the triangle could be a nod to the triple goddess, depicting the three phases of a woman’s life—maiden, mother, and crone. On the other hand, the triangle might also represent the crone phase, a symbol of the Dark Goddess, marking the nearing end of the cycle. Since Gladys was ill and drew energy from kids to rejuvenate her health, this does seem like a good fit.
The number 6 could be a reference to 666, which has long been associated with the devil and witchcraft. Fans who have seen any movie using witchcraft rituals might be familiar with the fact that the number 666 is associated with this. There’s only one 6 on the bell, but with all the dark magic involved in the story, this is a plausible connection.
Why 217 is such an important number in Weapons
The number 217 plays a significant role in the movie.
Archer (Josh Brolin) even sees this number in a dream featuring a giant gun marked with it. In an interview with Far Out, Zach Cregger admits that it’s a direct reference to room 217 in The Shining. Other than that, it also denotes the time when all 17 kids left their homes. From Alex’s perspective, the movie showed that Gladys performed her ritual late into the night, and exactly at 2:17, she rang her bell. This immediately put all the kids under her spell, and they ran towards her home and into the basement.
