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Barbarian film review: Small, yet perfectly-formed modern horror

Bolstered by three magnificent central performances, Barbarian already feels like a classic of the genre

October 28, 2022 09:47
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1 min read

Cert: 18
★★★★✩

Writer-director Zach Cregger — member of acclaimed comedy collection The Whitest Kids U’ Know — delivers a corker of a horror movie in his solo directorial debut. Starring Georgina Campbell (All My Friends Hate Me), Bill Skarsgård (It, The Devil All The Time), and Justin Long (He’s Just Not That Into You, Drag Me To Hell), Barbarian premiered in the UK at the Frightfest Film Festival in August and is now being released in cinemas nationwide just in time for Halloween.

Having booked a property in a rundown neighbourhood while staying in Detroit for an important job interview, newly-single Tess (Campbell) arrives at said property only to find it occupied by a young man named Keith (Skarsgård, brilliant).

With the storm raging outside and nowhere else to turn to, Tess is persuaded by her new companion to stay the night. After spending an evening getting to know him, Tess goes to bed in the safe knowledge that Keith is someone she can trust. But surprise! Tess wakes up that same night with the feeling that someone was in her room watching her.

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