Barbarian

Starring: Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgard, Justin Long, Matthew Patrick Davis, Richard Brake, Kurt Braunohler, Kate Bosworth (voice)
Directed by: Zach Cregger
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Thriller
2022

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A woman (Georgina Campbell) arrives at an Airbnb and discovers another renter (Bill Skarsgard) is already there. She decides to enter the house, which is not what it first seems.

Review:

Tim: I really enjoyed Zach Cregger's Barbarian. I'm not sure it does anything truly new, or anything we haven't seen before, but it executes it all extremely well. This is a good movie, an effective horror story. It surprises us, twists in the right places, and never overstays its welcome. This might not be ambitious enough to be "great", but it's a strong, worthwhile horror film.

The premise is that a woman arrives late at an Airbnb and discovers that it's apparently been double-booked. The man inside seems nice, but the house itself may hold a deadly secret. The set up is intriguing, even if it's just a slight twist on the basic home invasion premise. In this case, it's potentially the innocent people invading the home. Cregger's story does a nice job of faking one way, and then moving another. I wouldn't say the film offers major twists, but just enough unexpected things happen to keep the audience engaged. At a certain point, the story seems to shift to a brand new protagonist- this is an unexpected act halfway through the movie. However, Cregger has a clear plan with his screenplay and it eventually all makes sense. I do appreciate that he infused some level of intelligence into the writing and plays with our expectations. That's what horror films need to do these days- not just travel down the most-used paths. Barbarian achieves this.

The cast was solid. Georginia Campbell does a nice job in the lead role. Her performance is effective, believable. She brings a nice level of intelligence to the role- she's not the dumb horror victim we've seen in numerous other films. She mostly acts rationally. Bill Skarsgard was especially strong in his role. We've all been so conditioned with what to expect from him, and the film knows this- it playfully hints and toys with that idea in this role. I thought Skarsgard worked well opposite Campbell. They have some legitimate chemistry and were fun to watch together. Justin Long had a difficult job, playing a role that's supposed to be unlikable, but not too much. He hits the right notes and engages us in his character's life, even when he see the less savory aspects of his character. This film works in many ways because Campbell, Skarsgard, and Long each bring something very different to the table. It was legitimately fun to watch each of them interpret their characters in the midst of this story.

As far as the thrills go, I felt engaged and interested in the story. There's some real mystery aspects with hold our attention. I wouldn't say the film is especially scary- it seems more interested in thrills than scares. But, it does showcase some disturbing imagery that I won't soon forget. That aspect of the film felt more in line with traditional horror films- it was fine, it was intriguing, but it never wowed. The conclusion might feel like it borrows many beats from other films, but the real joy is getting there. Cregger does a nice job of setting up the characters at the beginning and investing time in their development. Each of these characters feels realized and authentic. He manages to balance this well with the thrills- at 1 hour, 42 minutes, there's not a ton of time to waste. Cregger really does lean into the dramatic aspects of the story well. Each of these characters felt compelling, so when they experience something terrifying, you absolutely feel some level of connection with them. This doesn't connect across the board- we get a few flashback scenes that are meant to explain the history and context of the house. I found those to be less engaging, more expected sequences. I suppose they were needed to understand, but they're significantly less interesting than the main story being told.

I give Cregger credit for delivering an entertaining horror film that works to subvert our expectations. I never actually felt afraid during it, but it was well made. It might not be the most memorable film, but it carries more weight than the average horror film. It's a success a movie I enjoyed watching.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: It, Drag Me to Hell, Don't Breathe