The most important advice from the various reviews I read about Barbarian, Zach Cregger’s (Miss March) first stab (pun intended) in the horror genre, was to know as little about the film as possible before watching it. As many of the reviewers I respect mention this in the early parts of their reviews, I will do the same. If you need some assurances before making a decision, watch the first part of the trailer. If you have enough data to decide, cut off the trailer.
Despite its 92%/72% scores on Rotten Tomatoes, I was also tentative, especially after being disappointed in many recent horror films that received similar scores from critics and audiences. Nevertheless, I gave Barbarian without knowing anything about it. I was more than pleasantly surprised. This taught thriller slowly built its suspense before unleashing into a wild finish. It was creepy and, at times, scary. More importantly, Barbarian was one of the best movie theater experiences in recent memory. It was a lot of fun.
The movie begins with a midnight rainstorm. Tess (Georgina Campbell) has arrived at an Airbnb in a rundown Detroit neighborhood, unbeknownst at the time. She’s in town for an interview with a well-renowned documentarian the next day. With the key not in the lock box, Tess pounds on the door until she awakens Keith (Bill Skarsgård – IT, The Devil All the Time). A mix-up online double-booked the Airbnb. How convenient that it’s pouring rain in the middle of the night. After both prove they have valid reservations and share identification, Keith convinces Tess to stay the night, and they can get the mess sorted out the next day.There are some haunted aspects of this home in which our two lead characters have found themselves. Without giving anything away, some weird (not supernatural) things happen, prompting Tess and Keith to investigate. It’s not the first of many stupid decisions made by various characters in Barbarian. This movie is not without its flaws. However, I found them easy to overlook because of how roped in I had become. I found myself having an enjoyable time, even when I knew that I could be jumping at any second.
Part of what makes Barbarian unique and effective is its segments. Cregger takes us in a different direction as soon as a story starts going, often introducing new characters well after significant characters are usually identified. Normally, I wouldn’t be a fan of this, as I like my stories to flow. However, it worked here.
The originality and crafty direction of Barbarian make this a must-watch for all horror film fans. The acting is atrocious, upstaged only by the laughable decision-making employed by our characters, but don’t let this be a decider. I enjoyed this movie, and it should be seen, preferably on a big screen and in the dark.
Plot 6/10
Character Development 6/10
Character Chemistry 7.5/10
Acting 6/10
Screenplay 6/10
Directing 9/10
Cinematography 10/10
Sound 10/10
Hook and Reel 10/10
Universal Relevance 5/10 (I sure hope not!)
75.5%
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