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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
Bolstered by three magnificent central performances, Barbarian already feels like a classic of the genre
October 28, 2022 09:47Cert: 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.
Meanwhile in LA, sitcom star AJ Gilbride (Long) finds himself in a tight spot when he is dropped from his latest project, having been accused of something unspeakable. Pressured to sell his assets to pay for his legal costs, AJ travels to one of his rental properties in his native Detroit, which is revealed to be the same house where Tess and Keith were staying.
Broaching everything from cancel-culture, red flags and general dating dynamics in the 21st century, Cregger leans heavily on the usual horror tropes, but somehow manages to deliver something truly unique. Barbarian never forgets to be funny, engaging and brilliantly self- aware. Cregger has given us a film that knows its audience inside out all and isn’t afraid of teasing them throughout.
Bolstered by three magnificent central performances, Barbarian already feels like a classic of the genre. Forget clever post-race horror a la Jordan Peale, post #MeToo would seem to be where it’s at right now.
Cregger has done a fantastic job of laying out pretty much all our collective fears and anxieties in one small, yet perfectly-formed modern horror.