The Barber (II) (2014) User Reviews

Decent Serial Killer Thriller Mystery

[gavin6942 · 7/10 · 20 July 2015]

A barber comes into contact with two men fixated on what triggers evil. A father, whose life is destroyed in pursuit of a killer, and a son who is trying to prevent his father's obsession.

So, they had me hooked early on with the mention of the Kenosha PD, an organization I happen to be rather familiar with. Did this have anything to do with the story? No. But it was still a great mention.

Then we also have Scott Glenn. Although he has been acting for decades, he seems to have finally come into his own as of 2014-2015. He made a big impression on "Daredevil" that he may never had done before. I can see fans of that show wanting to see more of him ,and they will love his performance here.

Nice to see Scott Glenn in a lead role again

[Seth_Rogue_One · 7/10 · 24 July 2015]

First I'd just like to say that the plot-summary on this page is inaccurate, albeit not far from what it is about it's still inaccurate.

What is true is that it is a serial killer themed thriller which starts with a wannabe serial killer meeting the real deal.

I can't go into any details without starting to spoil stuff but there are many twists and turns throughout the movie.

Luckily these twists aren't the typical random twists that sometimes Hollywood scriptwriters tend to throw in in last minute to shock the viewer and think that they are clever but doesn't make sense with what we've just witnessed.

They all make a fair amount of sense actually in the end so that's a definite plus.

And Scott Glenn is as I said really nice to see in a lead again, a underrated actor, Chris Coy in the other lead-role is also good.

It's not a perfect movie, it does feel like they didn't have much budget or time to deal with and some characters aren't fleshed out as they could have been but it does entertains and yeah I'd watch it again.

Cuts slowly and deeply

[ferguson-6 · 6/10 · 23 March 2015]

Greetings again from the darkness. There is a theory that to catch a killer, one must think like a killer. Young John McCormack is in the next room when his detective father, frustrated at being unable to put away a serial killer, commits suicide. Flash forward twenty years, and John is now himself a police officer intent on finishing his father's work … and gaining a bit of revenge in the process.

The story picks up as John (Chris Coy) has tracked Francis Visser to a small town, where he is known as Eugene the town barber, a gentle and dignified friend to all. Scott Glenn portrays Eugene as a slow-shuffling elderly gentleman who doesn't much appreciate profanity, rudeness or poor decisions. He is even friends with the local police chief (Stephen Tobolowsky), who accepts Eugene's word on just about any topic.

The cat and mouse game between John and Eugene plays a bit like Sleuth (1972) where each participant sees himself as smarter than the other. Only this time, there are 17 previous murders to go along with the developments after Eugene agrees to mentor John on the fine art of stalking, planning and killing without evidence. Beginning with a gypsy proverb: "You have to dig deep to bury your father", the film seems to use that quote figuratively and literally, as being buried alive plays a role alongside the detective father's ruinous obsession. Supporting work is provided by Kristen Heger, as John's co-worker (and more), Olivia Taylor Dudley as the waitress looking to John for fun, and Max Arciniega as Eugene's barber shop employee.

More attention to the John vs Eugene piece, and a little less to the various sub-plots, could have tightened up this thriller and elevated it to an even more suspenseful level. Mr. Glenn and Mr. Coy are both excellent, and at their best when sharing a scene. It's a nice first feature from director Basel Owies, who has an eye for nuanced characters with a dark side.

Good shave will make a new man out of you

[quincytheodore · 6/10 · 3 May 2015]

An alleged veteran is forced to come out of hiding by unforeseeable circumstances, he must employ his skill once more to overcome the problem. No, this is not John Wick or Taken. The Barber is more of a noir detective movie that matches two different characters with hidden identities. The two are embroiled in a quite interesting mind game, however the plot relies too heavily on far-fetched plot devices and coincidences which feels underwhelming and contrived at latter half.

The Barber Eugene (Scott Glenn) meets with the young ambitious John (Chris Coy). Right at the introduction, John is very aggressive in his approach, claiming that Eugene is in fact a serial killer. The two try to outsmart each other and the movie is pretty good on creating layers for both of them. Scott Glenn delivers the character with precision, often looking feeble but still charismatically bizarre when needs be.

For his counterpart, Chris Coy performs admirable as well. He exhibits the contradicting youth to Glenn's more experienced nature. The chemistry is there as each finds more about each other's secrets. Visually, the movie has fitting noir look, it sets in a small town and some of the scenes are beautifully shot.

Unfortunately, it often resorts to cheap plot devices. Characters would need to find or do things just in the right time and right place. The chances of these occurring are astronomically low, especially since they speak in vague manner, yet the movie pushes the scenes as if they are destined to be. Either because the alleged killer is near psychic or the victim is dumb. It is not a clever scheme or even a planned one, at some points the movie even utilizes more subplots and flashbacks, creating inconsistent pacing flow that never feels resolved.

This is a shame because it could've been more engaging if the plot was simplified, instead it becomes forced as it tries to set overly elaborate twists. If one can get pass the irregularities, there is a good acting presence that might just entertain more on human drama aspect than its murky mystery thrill.

I've seen better, I've seen worse

[Wizard-8 · 4 May 2015]

I decided to rent the DVD of "The Barber" because it had actor Scott Glenn in it, an actor who I feel is very underrated. As expected, Glenn gives another solid performance. It is a little shocking at first to see him look so old (though then again, he is in his 70s), but he expertly shows two sides of his character, the sweet old man everyone in his old town thinks he is, and at other times a hidden darker side. His role is also written to have some interesting quirks (he can't stand foul language). As for the rest of the script, it's kind of a mixed bag. It doesn't make sense that Glenn's character would let his guard down so early on, and you'll be able to guess more or less what happens at the end long before it happens (though there is a final twist I didn't predict.) The story also has some slow spots. As for the direction, viewers who are expecting R-rated thrills will likely be disappointed; though the movie got an R rating, it feels more like a PG-13. On the other hand, the movie looks pretty good for a low budget enterprise, and director Bael Owies does manage to keep a small kernel of interest for viewers even during the clunkier moments. What the movie ends up being is an okay viewing experience, nothing more or less.

Decent but lacking spark

[hilbertjl · 6/10 · 2 July 2015]

With a fairly engaging back story, good overall acting, and plot twists that make sense / don't feel overtly contrived, The Barber has plenty going for it as a thriller. However, there's just something overall missing, something that could have probably made it a much better film.

The pacing is so-so; it doesn't drag and in fact there are a few points where I felt things were skimmed over leaving me guessing. The dialog, perhaps, is where things got lackluster. I just had a tough time empathizing with the main characters. I was definitely interested in what they were going though but I felt no emotional involvement.

Still, you could do a lot worse if you're looking for a bit of entertainment, and its darker themes may even leave you with some philosophical musings after the credits have rolled.

The barber is a cut below God awful

[dgefroh · 1/10 · 21 April 2015]

How and why IMDb rates this so called movie at or around a 5.7 is beyond me. This movie is a classic B- movie from the first scene to the final credits. Forget the storyline as the writer of this movie doesn't have a clue what a good storyline is, what it may look like, or how to fashion an even interesting tale.

I could get into what this stupid movie is about, but if that is what your looking for then read the IMDb summary, what I want to share is my opinion of "The barber". First and foremost this movie has people acting and doing things nobody would ever do, the plot is so stupid your only reasonable response is to fast forward the entire movie to the end so you can be done with it. Scott Glenn was once a decent actor who took reasonably good roles, he has obviously fallen on hard times to take on crap like this.

Here's the bottom-line on this movie, if you like stories that are so unrealistic and unbelievable then maybe this movie is for you after-all, However, if you enjoy a good drama, a good plot, decent acting, a storyline that makes sense, a movie that draws you in and keeps you invested in the story, then this trite called "The barber" is not worth your time, effort, or attention....avoid it like the plague, you can thank me later.

School's Out

[refinedsugar · 6/10 · 28 April 2023]

I like Scott Glenn as he's a reliable character actor who's appeared in such a wide variety of material. I also like cheap Blu-rays so when I saw 'The Barber' new for $3, I couldn't pass it by even though I had no knowledge of the film. I had no expectations - high or low - going in and perhaps that was for the best. This serial killer genre flick has some nice moments, but never does anything to make it feel like it's better than the middle of the pack.

Imagine if your father was a cop obsessively trying to put away a man he thought was a serial killer - responsible for the death of countless young women - and so desperate to do right, he crossed the line and planted evidence. The case gets tossed and he commits suicide out of grief. Now twenty years later, you're a police officer too and haunted by the past. You want closure for your dad, yourself and justice for the victims. You track down the guy who's now a very old man. He's under an assumed name and by all interpretations a well liked and friendly member of the community ... and you do what? Surveil him? Conference with the local PD telling them your suspicions? Approach him in small town American during broad daylight and accost him with a knife?

'The Barber' is a film let down by it's half cooked story. The son, Eugene (Chris Coy) and his unhinged actions come close to sinking the ship. When the barber in question, Eugene Van Wingerdt (Scott Glenn) takes this kid under wing as a quasi serial killer protege with little resistance, you know it's not going to be THIS simple ... easy. If this guy is such a good serial killer, he's smarter than you and three steps ahead.

This leads to a cliche finale that tries to be clever, but pulls the "surprise" card one too many times and as a sweetener has a very well delivered, but unnecessary monologue too. Scott Glenn's level of almost effortless acting is the glue. 'The Barber' was an alright watch - not horrible like some people want you to believe - but also not highly memorable. I did however more than get my $3's worth.

Alcohol says something about a man before the man says something about himself...!!!

[uashique08 · 9/10 · 21 May 2015]

My review will differ quite much from the others. I don't why this movie is so low rated..!! Yes, I think the ratings should be higher.

The movie slowly advances while revealing the characters true motivations with twisting at every corner. I have to say that, I haven't see some of the things coming. As the movie moves slowly, audience can get a little bored but the climax makes up for it fully.

"The watch trick" is something I truly liked. It was inevitable that a women will respond to it. 'The barber' has a charming and respectable appearance attracting "yummy" women.

The movie in total gives a view that it's the quite and innocent guys you won't see coming... ;)

A thriller worth the watch

[carlos-pires · 8/10 · 24 August 2018]

A very interesting twist to the hold serial killer story, with great acting from Scott Glenn and Chris Coy. Yes, some plot twists can easily be spotted beforehand, but I guess this is Cinema, not sleight-of-hand. And yes... the choices made by the female police character are plain dumb, but overall a good watch. On hindsight, 90% of the credit for the quality of this movie should go straight to Scott Glenn.

A gem, don't believe the negative reviews

[xhidden99 · 9/10 · 7 January 2017]

This movie is excellent. And the people who say it's not all have the same complaint. It's not a noir neo noir film with endless 'twists'. A twists within twists and yet more twists. It's not told backwards it does have weird cuts and camera work. And Lord knows no shakeycam. How can there even exist a movie that goes from A to B to C without the obligatory 'slow burn' that starts nowhere goes nowhere and trails off to nothing like so many other highly rated movies do? That's the beauty of this film. It's tight, compact, direct, well acted, well constructed no nonsense no making the audience jump through hoops to appreciate what a genius the director sees himself as. Scott Glenn is great as a homespun malevolence playing it easy. Chris Coy does an excellent job of playing a guy who 'might' be a bad guy. All I can take one point off is the Audrey character and her involvement. Her character is unneeded entirely.

AND THATS HOW ITS DONE!

[TRlNITY · 8/10 · 26 August 2018]

Smart protagonist and smart antagonist- thats what makes this movie so great. An unceasing game of cat & mouse keeps the tension going through the story, with some nice plot twists and really good timing on the reveals. 5.9? REEEE diculous. This movies is far and away better than that score. I think ppl were looking for car crashes or nudity. Not w/ this one. Good dialogue, superb acting. Just a taut, smart little thriller. Worth every minute of your time.

Ignore the haters, excellent film, fantastic performance by Scott Glenn!! Glad we purchased it!!

[joiningjt · 9/10 · 11 May 2021]

Seems like I like movies with the title the barber thoroughly enjoyed this film and the barber with malcolm McDowell. This film wasnt your knock down drag out action thriller or a gore fest serial killer film. It's a mystery thriller with a couple of decent twists and also features excellent performances by the cast especially mr Scott Glenn. I'm very happy we purchased the bluray as we'll watch it annually!! Very well written and directed with a average at best budget they did fantastic. Watch it or better yet purchase the bluray on Ebay cheap like we did.

An Old Fashioned Suspenseful Thriller

[blademan-95603 · 9/10 · 30 April 2023]

I was thoroughly shocked to learn this film was made almost nine years ago. More shocked even that as good as it is, it all this time totally escaped my attention.

I mean this one is right up my alley, being profoundly suspenseful, brilliantly acted with surprises and convolutions of plot most satisfying.

Scott Glenn's performance is superb in a real sleeper of a film with a Hitchcockian flair that might remind you of his classic "Shadow of a Doubt", with a final twist so satisfying you'll wonder why you never heard of it before. And one which, in my opinion, will be discovered some day, and rightly labeled a buried treasure classic of the genre as it clearly deserves to be.