Barbarian: A Delightfully Madcap Horror Thriller
Traveling to Detroit for a job interview, a young woman books a rental home. But when she arrives late at night, she discovers that the house is double booked and a strange man is already staying there. Against her better judgement, she decides to spend the evening, but soon discovers that there's a lot more to fear than just an unexpected house guest.
Comedians have been killing the horror game, and we can add Barbarian writer/director Zach Cregger (who many may know from sketch group The Whitest Kids U’ Know) to the growing pile of comedy actors turned great horror director. With Barbarian, Cregger cooks up one demented rollercoaster ride of a horror flick, one that takes bold swings, most of which pay off big. The film is a B-movie executed at an A-level; it’s clever, well paced, and laced with perfectly timed comedic relief to offset its taut tension and palpable dread. It’s definitely worth seeking out on the big screen and seeing in a large auditorium full of midnight movie enthusiasts. Just know that its thrills, chills, and surprises are best experienced the less you know about it — so stop reading this review if you haven’t already seen the film!
Without saying too much, Barbarian is kind of like Wes Craven’s The People Under The Stairs and Fede Álvarez’ Don’t Breathe had a baby and appointed Drew Goddard (The Cabin In The Woods and Bad Times At The El Royale director) as its godfather. That doesn’t sound too shabby, right?! The film takes an AirBnB mix-up, and turns it into a nerve-wracking wild ride that crackles with subversion and boiling tension. Cregger finds a strong balance between taking his time and being economical. He sets up his themes early on, while simultaneously stretching out the uncomfortable awkwardness of the AirBnB situation, milking it for maximum unease. Cregger takes this opportunity to establish his characters and slightly disarm the audience with a false sense of calm before unleashing the horrors that lurk in wait.
Just when you think you know where things are headed, Cregger yanks the rug out from under the audience, introducing new layers to the horror via flashback or by pivoting the story into an entirely different direction. These diversions introduce new aspects to the main storyline, shading it in with background and providing new definition, and they also allow the audience a bit of reprieve from the film’s visceral terrors. You would think these detours would cause hiccups in the film’s pacing, but they fully play into its unpredictable push-and-pull nature. It keeps you wondering where it’ll veer off to next, and while some directions are less satisfying than others, it always keeps you engaged with its madness. It really unfurls with great effect, and each new revelation creates more intrigue that keeps you leaning in.
There comes a point when you start to wonder how all the pieces fit together, and as wacky as things get, it all begins to coalesce, somewhat, into a larger picture. Although its messaging is slightly askew, the film is, in a roundabout way, about the ripple effects of abuse and monsters, both literal and figurative, who won’t take no for an answer. By placing its heroine Tess ( Georgina Campbell) into a situation with a chivalrous AirBnB guest (Bill Skarsgård’s Keith), a MeToo’d actor who owns the AirBnB (Justin Long), and a monstrous man (Richard Brake’s Frank) who begets more monsters, Barbarian is able to showcase a spectrum of complexity to male behavior and produce a lot of compelling tension, shock, and humor based on how each scenario plays out.
The film falls off the rails in mostly good ways that thrill, chill, and delight with its wonderful reveals and wacky frights that continually keep you guessing. It’s messy, but interestingly so, and its experience is made all the more engrossing thanks to its cast of talented performers, who all deliver excellent performances that amp up the comedy, horror, and suspense. Although it’s not a total home run, Barbarian serves up a twisted romp that’s sure to appease the midnight movie aficionados. Zach Cregger has entered the horror arena with confident swagger, and Barbarian is a satisfying offering to the B-movie gods. Let it be your baby and suckle from its grimy bottle!
Recommendation: Barbarian is a thrilling treat and demented delight! Definitely seek this one out, and see it in a theater setting with a big crowd if you can.
What do you think? We want to know. Share your thoughts and feelings in the comments section below, and as always, remember to viddy well!