UGH .... so close - SO CLOSE! But in the end, no cigar. All that potential and solid storytelling dissolving into to a nonsensical, clumsy, rushed, and ultimately unsatisfying conclusion, implementing all of the worst elements of horror movies. That's what disappoints the most. This movie held so much promise and had such a great start and journey all the way up until the end, but sadly the writer(s) somehow couldn't find the way to keep that strong storytelling up to par all the way through to the end. It wasn't that I disliked the end result. It was the clumsy way the screenplay got us there that left a lot to be desired. I was rolling my eyes on multiple occasions during parts of the final act. Video review to come soon.
780 Reviews
Truly scary. Like an average day in Detroit.
benjaminskylerhill9 September 2022
A lot of great things can and should be said about Barbarian. It's a masterfully directed film; Creggor always shows us just enough in each shot that we're left wondering about what's lurking in the empty space on the frame.
The first two-thirds of the film are tense when it's quiet and shocking when it's loud. It kept me on my toes for nearly the entire time, which is refreshing for my desensitised eyes.
Efficient work is made of the character introductions. Cregor's script doesn't waste time at the beginning of each character's story. We get to know exactly what we need to know about each of them as a person before they get thrust into the metaphorical depths of hell. It makes the eventual carnage all the more nerve-shredding because no character is disposable.
So, yes, the film is good. But it's not all good.
The film's narrative and pacing are not nearly as compelling and tight, respectively, as they should be due to the fact that it tells the stories of three separate sets of characters (one after the other) before getting to the finale.
Also, the film's last act really took a dive into campy and I found it to be a betrayal of the rest of the story's bleak tone.
The final set piece is so out-of-left-field and ridiculous that it became unintentionally hilarious for me.
This may seem like a minor complaint, but when the ending of the movie leaves a bad taste in my mouth, it kind of sours the whole experience.
I wanted this to be better than it was. But it's still so tense throughout its majority and the many twists are so satisfying that I do heartily recommend this subversive horror flick.
The first two-thirds of the film are tense when it's quiet and shocking when it's loud. It kept me on my toes for nearly the entire time, which is refreshing for my desensitised eyes.
Efficient work is made of the character introductions. Cregor's script doesn't waste time at the beginning of each character's story. We get to know exactly what we need to know about each of them as a person before they get thrust into the metaphorical depths of hell. It makes the eventual carnage all the more nerve-shredding because no character is disposable.
So, yes, the film is good. But it's not all good.
The film's narrative and pacing are not nearly as compelling and tight, respectively, as they should be due to the fact that it tells the stories of three separate sets of characters (one after the other) before getting to the finale.
Also, the film's last act really took a dive into campy and I found it to be a betrayal of the rest of the story's bleak tone.
The final set piece is so out-of-left-field and ridiculous that it became unintentionally hilarious for me.
This may seem like a minor complaint, but when the ending of the movie leaves a bad taste in my mouth, it kind of sours the whole experience.
I wanted this to be better than it was. But it's still so tense throughout its majority and the many twists are so satisfying that I do heartily recommend this subversive horror flick.
A cult film if there ever was one
sgriff2255512 September 2022
This movie is textbook, to a T, the very definition of a cult film. This is the most "culty" film I've seen since rocky horror.
I don't really want to say much (or compare this to other films) because anything written will give expectations and this film is absolutely best if you go in blind and with zero expectations. I would really, really recommend avoiding all reviews and any discussion of this film prior to seeing it. If you're a horror fan this movie should be at the top of your list.
I will say that the person who made the trailer deserves a major award because the trailer gives away *nothing* at all, which is exactly how a trailer should be and trailers like this are so rare.
7/10.
I don't really want to say much (or compare this to other films) because anything written will give expectations and this film is absolutely best if you go in blind and with zero expectations. I would really, really recommend avoiding all reviews and any discussion of this film prior to seeing it. If you're a horror fan this movie should be at the top of your list.
I will say that the person who made the trailer deserves a major award because the trailer gives away *nothing* at all, which is exactly how a trailer should be and trailers like this are so rare.
7/10.
"Barbarian" is one of the most thrilling theatre experiences I've had in 2022
darkreignn9 September 2022
"Barbarian" is nerve-racking - from the opening seconds, not minutes, but seconds of the film, director Zach Cregger immediately immerses viewers in an experience that leaves knuckles white, nails bitten, and minds consistently wondering what on God's green earth could possibly happen next.
Viewing "Barbarian" without any knowledge of what it is about is the optimal viewing experience; however, even if you've seen the trailer for this film, you'll be happy to know that it spoils basically zero of the twists and turns this movie has to offer. Thus, I do not want to spoil anything either, which makes this an incredibly hard review to write! So, what I will do is attempt to explain the basic premise of "Barbarian," and what makes it one of the most thrilling theatre experiences I've had in a long time.
Starring the beautiful Georgina Campbell as a lone Airbnb renter who is staying overnight at a house in Detroit, Michigan, "Barbarian" opens with Georgina's character, Tess, arriving at her rental to find that another man - played by Bill Skarsgård - is already occupying the home. Claiming that this incident is the result of a simple mixup of double booking, Bill's character Keith invites Tess in to stay the night, promising that, in the morning, they will both get this situation sorted out. From that point on, the movie becomes a razor sharp thriller that will infect audiences with its inherent uneasiness.
Is Keith truly a stranger caught up in an innocent mistake, or is he someone, or something, more nefarious? And is the rental property all it seems to be, or is there a greater mystery to be uncovered beneath its welcoming surface? "Barbarian" begins by introducing question after question to its audience, ensuring that viewers remain on the edge of their seat trying to predict what will next occur. Second after second and minute after minute, this movie is full of surprises, to the point where, after the 45 minute mark, my expectations were blown out of the water to the point where it felt useless trying to guess what would happen next, because I hadn't the slightest idea what could possibly happen next. And that is the highest compliment I can give this movie because, regardless of how you choose to describe this movie, you cannot claim it to be predictable. And on a side note, the fact that the characters actually made intelligent decisions and thought things out only made the viewing experience more tense, because, since everyone was already doing what I assumed a smart person would do, I had no idea how the scenes and sequences would progress. And I also want to pay my compliments to the soundtrack, the direction, and the cinematography, all of which combined perfectly to create a truly chilling experience.
I feel like this is a vague and poorly written review, but only because I do not want to spoil anything for anyone. You may have seen the teasers claiming that this film is so scary that people are screaming, vomiting, and passing out in the theatre - while that is just false marketing at its finest, I will say that "Barbarian" did induce a physical reaction from me at parts - I could feel my heart practically beating out of my chest during certain sequences due to the suspense. So, while I don't necessarily find this film to be scary, it is one of the most adrenaline pumping experiences I have had in a long, long time. If you are at all a fan of thrillers, I'd recommend seeing this on the biggest screen you can find, and preferably late at night. This isn't the most horrifying movie you'll ever see, but it is sure to get your blood pumping.
Viewing "Barbarian" without any knowledge of what it is about is the optimal viewing experience; however, even if you've seen the trailer for this film, you'll be happy to know that it spoils basically zero of the twists and turns this movie has to offer. Thus, I do not want to spoil anything either, which makes this an incredibly hard review to write! So, what I will do is attempt to explain the basic premise of "Barbarian," and what makes it one of the most thrilling theatre experiences I've had in a long time.
Starring the beautiful Georgina Campbell as a lone Airbnb renter who is staying overnight at a house in Detroit, Michigan, "Barbarian" opens with Georgina's character, Tess, arriving at her rental to find that another man - played by Bill Skarsgård - is already occupying the home. Claiming that this incident is the result of a simple mixup of double booking, Bill's character Keith invites Tess in to stay the night, promising that, in the morning, they will both get this situation sorted out. From that point on, the movie becomes a razor sharp thriller that will infect audiences with its inherent uneasiness.
Is Keith truly a stranger caught up in an innocent mistake, or is he someone, or something, more nefarious? And is the rental property all it seems to be, or is there a greater mystery to be uncovered beneath its welcoming surface? "Barbarian" begins by introducing question after question to its audience, ensuring that viewers remain on the edge of their seat trying to predict what will next occur. Second after second and minute after minute, this movie is full of surprises, to the point where, after the 45 minute mark, my expectations were blown out of the water to the point where it felt useless trying to guess what would happen next, because I hadn't the slightest idea what could possibly happen next. And that is the highest compliment I can give this movie because, regardless of how you choose to describe this movie, you cannot claim it to be predictable. And on a side note, the fact that the characters actually made intelligent decisions and thought things out only made the viewing experience more tense, because, since everyone was already doing what I assumed a smart person would do, I had no idea how the scenes and sequences would progress. And I also want to pay my compliments to the soundtrack, the direction, and the cinematography, all of which combined perfectly to create a truly chilling experience.
I feel like this is a vague and poorly written review, but only because I do not want to spoil anything for anyone. You may have seen the teasers claiming that this film is so scary that people are screaming, vomiting, and passing out in the theatre - while that is just false marketing at its finest, I will say that "Barbarian" did induce a physical reaction from me at parts - I could feel my heart practically beating out of my chest during certain sequences due to the suspense. So, while I don't necessarily find this film to be scary, it is one of the most adrenaline pumping experiences I have had in a long, long time. If you are at all a fan of thrillers, I'd recommend seeing this on the biggest screen you can find, and preferably late at night. This isn't the most horrifying movie you'll ever see, but it is sure to get your blood pumping.
Intense, riveting ... yet dumb.
Her-Excellency16 September 2022
No, they are not mutually exclusive.
First of all, props to the creators of this intensely riveting film for keeping us GLUED to the edge of our seats, in suspense, during the slow burn of a beginning, DESPITE thinking we knew what was going to happen.
Read that again.
In simple terms, even if this film had gone exactly the way we thought it would, the build-up to what we expected to happen, was masterfully handled.
Beyond that, the film declines in intensity during the second half, and expects more from the viewer in order to keep its believability factor.
I meant to add so much more, but I keep giving away too much and have to go back and delete it. I DETEST spoilers (unless I specifically ask for them) and those who think they actually gain something by revealing anything more than what is necessary. As such and as it is almost impossible to fully discuss the film without some reveals (and I possess tact enough not to spoil it for others), I will simply add that although there ARE a couple of "dumb" horror-film trope moments as in 'why did he/she do that' or 'why didn't he/she do that', they are in no way lastingly detrimental to the film. It is quite good, in that it quickly reels you back in and you all but forget about them - at least for the duration.
... It is also quite bad in the sense that it is off-the-wall bonkers.
It does gift viewers with a couple of funny/humorous moments, but they neither make or break the film.
In short, You will really like it, or you will hate it. Either way, see it before someone with less courtesy spoils it for you.
(The casting of Alexander Skarsgard was genius).
6.5-7/10.
First of all, props to the creators of this intensely riveting film for keeping us GLUED to the edge of our seats, in suspense, during the slow burn of a beginning, DESPITE thinking we knew what was going to happen.
Read that again.
In simple terms, even if this film had gone exactly the way we thought it would, the build-up to what we expected to happen, was masterfully handled.
Beyond that, the film declines in intensity during the second half, and expects more from the viewer in order to keep its believability factor.
I meant to add so much more, but I keep giving away too much and have to go back and delete it. I DETEST spoilers (unless I specifically ask for them) and those who think they actually gain something by revealing anything more than what is necessary. As such and as it is almost impossible to fully discuss the film without some reveals (and I possess tact enough not to spoil it for others), I will simply add that although there ARE a couple of "dumb" horror-film trope moments as in 'why did he/she do that' or 'why didn't he/she do that', they are in no way lastingly detrimental to the film. It is quite good, in that it quickly reels you back in and you all but forget about them - at least for the duration.
... It is also quite bad in the sense that it is off-the-wall bonkers.
It does gift viewers with a couple of funny/humorous moments, but they neither make or break the film.
In short, You will really like it, or you will hate it. Either way, see it before someone with less courtesy spoils it for you.
(The casting of Alexander Skarsgard was genius).
6.5-7/10.
Destined to be a cult/midnight movie.
flozenmotion7 September 2022
Takes it's time and has a massive second act hook that absolutely changes the film, really a huge sucker punch with absurd comedy. It's baffling at times, absolutely insane and there isn't another film you're going to see like it for years. The craziest horror theater experience I've had since Tusk. It's dark, it's funny, it's shocking. Could not recommend a film more, go see it while it's still in theaters to see with a crowd and hear their reactions.
GO IN BLIND AND DO NOT WATCH TRAILERS!!! You deserve to experience this wildness for yourself. It's also shot beautifully and the performances all are pitch perfect for the scenes they are in. Justin Long is a blessing and we do not deserve him.
GO IN BLIND AND DO NOT WATCH TRAILERS!!! You deserve to experience this wildness for yourself. It's also shot beautifully and the performances all are pitch perfect for the scenes they are in. Justin Long is a blessing and we do not deserve him.
A fun ride.
schlomo-jones10 September 2022
I went in totally blind, with no expectations whatsoever as I only heard of this movie the day I decided to watch it. I think that's the best way to enjoy it.
This is campy horror film that has all the classic tropes from horror movies of a home invasion, with some fun twists and turns in it. This is definitely more of campy film though. Not quite as a campy as movies like Child's Play or Leprechan, but definitely not a true horror movie that will give you nightmares like the Ring or the Excorcist.
Bill Skarsgård really does a great job setting things up, and Georgina Campbell serves well as the classic "damsel in the distress." Justin Long is truly hilarious. This pokes fun at a lot of hororr movie tropes while still being scary enough to have audiences jumping out of their seats. It's a movie that's best seen with a lot of friends in a packed theater. But I don't think it will be a horror classic.
This is campy horror film that has all the classic tropes from horror movies of a home invasion, with some fun twists and turns in it. This is definitely more of campy film though. Not quite as a campy as movies like Child's Play or Leprechan, but definitely not a true horror movie that will give you nightmares like the Ring or the Excorcist.
Bill Skarsgård really does a great job setting things up, and Georgina Campbell serves well as the classic "damsel in the distress." Justin Long is truly hilarious. This pokes fun at a lot of hororr movie tropes while still being scary enough to have audiences jumping out of their seats. It's a movie that's best seen with a lot of friends in a packed theater. But I don't think it will be a horror classic.
Did they change the writer halfway through?
Watcher4229 October 2022
The first act is pretty good. Atmospheric, nuanced, interesting, decent acting - especially from Skarsgard. I did have to really suspend my disbelief a lot to allow the film to move forward though. Double booked AirBnB, no hotel rooms available, the main charcater had done no research on the area before arriving. Really?
The second act started well and was enhanced because of the events of the first. It works because it sets the audience up in a position where we have more knowledge than the newly introduced characters. It added tension and I was interested in what direction they would take the story.
I liked the way the first two acts played with the personalities / backgrounds of the male leads. Hinting and leaning into social stereotypes but leaving a few clues to the real intentions. It works quite well. I may be crediting the writers too much here, but I think I get the underlying message of this film, but it just gets lost by the end.
The longer the film goes on (and it does feel a bit overlong), the more ridiculous it gets. It feels like it's written by two different people; or they spent so much time on the first half of the movie they had to rush the rest. There are some truly stupid moments that are almost farcical comedy. All the tension drained out of the film, and it just became a series of ridiculous scenes strung together. Events are telegraphed way ahead of time. All the nuance is gone.
It's so disappointing that something so creepy and initially interesting can go so wrong. Ignoring the stupid decisions made by the main charcater in the first act, I would have scored it a 7. The acting is good, the direction is solid, but the story just drags it down so much that by the end I can only give it a 4.
The second act started well and was enhanced because of the events of the first. It works because it sets the audience up in a position where we have more knowledge than the newly introduced characters. It added tension and I was interested in what direction they would take the story.
I liked the way the first two acts played with the personalities / backgrounds of the male leads. Hinting and leaning into social stereotypes but leaving a few clues to the real intentions. It works quite well. I may be crediting the writers too much here, but I think I get the underlying message of this film, but it just gets lost by the end.
The longer the film goes on (and it does feel a bit overlong), the more ridiculous it gets. It feels like it's written by two different people; or they spent so much time on the first half of the movie they had to rush the rest. There are some truly stupid moments that are almost farcical comedy. All the tension drained out of the film, and it just became a series of ridiculous scenes strung together. Events are telegraphed way ahead of time. All the nuance is gone.
It's so disappointing that something so creepy and initially interesting can go so wrong. Ignoring the stupid decisions made by the main charcater in the first act, I would have scored it a 7. The acting is good, the direction is solid, but the story just drags it down so much that by the end I can only give it a 4.
Loved Some Sections, Others Left More To Be Desired
ThereelscoopwithKK17 September 2022
For most I think this is one of those either you love it or you hate it movies. After viewing a couple of days ago I still am having issues deciding on which side of that divide I fall. For me, the opening act was exceptional. Skarsgård was fantastic in his role and Campbell also played her part excellently ( for the entire film really), but the two together had a perfect horror chemistry for me. I really was craving more screen time with both of them.
The movie then tries to combine a couple different backstories and attach them all together. I would say this was done with moderate success. The exposure of the character flaws was achieved through these backstories that helped the movie display the themes it set out to, however I felt a lot of time was wasted on irrelevant scenes. I suppose this was an attempt to keep you on your toes, but after knowing how the story ends I would have liked other areas of the story to be explored in a little more detail. Specifically, focusing a little bit more on "the mothers" history could have been quite powerful and informing. Instead, the audience is tasked with having to sort of use its imagination to envision exactly how "the mother" became what she is.
Overall, it was fine, loved some parts and hated others. However, I definitely don't see how this would ever be elevated to the level of a "classic".
The movie then tries to combine a couple different backstories and attach them all together. I would say this was done with moderate success. The exposure of the character flaws was achieved through these backstories that helped the movie display the themes it set out to, however I felt a lot of time was wasted on irrelevant scenes. I suppose this was an attempt to keep you on your toes, but after knowing how the story ends I would have liked other areas of the story to be explored in a little more detail. Specifically, focusing a little bit more on "the mothers" history could have been quite powerful and informing. Instead, the audience is tasked with having to sort of use its imagination to envision exactly how "the mother" became what she is.
Overall, it was fine, loved some parts and hated others. However, I definitely don't see how this would ever be elevated to the level of a "classic".
Two Movies in One...
bluetzin29 October 2022
When i watched barbarian i felt like i manipulated in all different directions..in a good way, i couldn't guess where the plot was going and it wasn't obvious who was the bad and who the good one... extra credits to the trailer that didn't expose anything... not even the so called 'mama' and in general the movie didn't let you predict anything...The first act was great... the second one it could be better.. i felt like it was two different movies.. the second part was kind of sequel that rarely is better than the authentic first movie. The First movie always has the atmosphere vibes and the jumpscares... and the second one the visuals and the brutal scenes...Well it was just like that. It was good horror stuff.. i can't denny it. Maybe a better balance was needed comparing the first act to the second.. it's kind of weird how they use the same set up for different outcomes.
Make Sure To Get Front Row Seats!
dmurilloroman9 September 2022
I've been waiting to see Barbarian for awhile because the trailer for this film has been one of the best I've seen in a long time because it scares you while also not telling you what's going to happen in the movie. The film relies a lot on tension and does so in such an expert manner with absolutely no cheap jump scares in sight. Another positive point is how straight to the point the movie is. It starts off quickly and there is little to no fluff in the film which I prefer. This film also does something relatively new in the horror film genre by dividing the film up to involve different characters perspectives which I actually loved. I recommend you get the front row seats like me and my gf did because I think it's worth it for that first big scare. You're able to feel extremely uneasy with the sadistic theme music and the up-close experience which I love when I know I'm walking into a scary movie. Lastly, the film was written and directed by Zach Creggers who did work mostly as an actor in some small projects which really makes me curious as to how many original great scripts are not being made out there because of someone's credentials. I really recommend you go see this film in its first week!
Come for a night, stay forever.
AfricanBro10 September 2022
I had really low expectations when it started because because it begins exactly the same as "Weekenders" did which really wasn't a great movie, different genres though. Over half an hour in I still wasn't sure where exactly the movie was heading, but when things turn dark the thrill starts, old school horror-esque.
My only complaint, which unfortunately seemed like it was done deliberately, is that once the horror starts, the movie introduces a completely new character arc and you have to wait for it to build up all again, it purposely teases the eerie stuff which is frustrating because you know the good stuff's coming but not yet. And it does this several times, keeps resetting which makes the second act seem off paced but it all comes together in the end.
It was a conventional horror like you'd remember in the 2010's, not really prismatic or director trying to reinvent the wheel; it's just people stuck trying to escape from something in a 'haunted' house. And I like how there was still logical explanation, albeit a disturbing one. A few details that weren't explained, didn't seem to have the time to as it tries to introduce all the characters properly.
The last act of the movie is all eerie, it however doesn't climax as hard as I anticipated, thought they'd have more fight but it still did a pretty decent job and the finale scene was sensible end. Almost everything about the movie was better than I expected, I suggest going in blind.
My only complaint, which unfortunately seemed like it was done deliberately, is that once the horror starts, the movie introduces a completely new character arc and you have to wait for it to build up all again, it purposely teases the eerie stuff which is frustrating because you know the good stuff's coming but not yet. And it does this several times, keeps resetting which makes the second act seem off paced but it all comes together in the end.
It was a conventional horror like you'd remember in the 2010's, not really prismatic or director trying to reinvent the wheel; it's just people stuck trying to escape from something in a 'haunted' house. And I like how there was still logical explanation, albeit a disturbing one. A few details that weren't explained, didn't seem to have the time to as it tries to introduce all the characters properly.
The last act of the movie is all eerie, it however doesn't climax as hard as I anticipated, thought they'd have more fight but it still did a pretty decent job and the finale scene was sensible end. Almost everything about the movie was better than I expected, I suggest going in blind.
every place has something to reveal
lee_eisenberg14 September 2022
Having not seen any trailers, I went into Zach Cregger's "Barbarian" knowing only that it was about a woman who books a house, only to discover that a man also booked the house, leading to questions of what happened. It turns out that's only the starting point. This is one movie that really plays with the audience. Even after the most shocking scenes - of which there are many - you still have no idea what's coming.
My point is that this is one of the most innovative horror movies in years. Maybe not like "Psycho" or "The Shining", but this is still one for the ages. Definitely check it out.
So yes, Rikki Tikki Tavi, won't you be my baby?
My point is that this is one of the most innovative horror movies in years. Maybe not like "Psycho" or "The Shining", but this is still one for the ages. Definitely check it out.
So yes, Rikki Tikki Tavi, won't you be my baby?
A film of two halves
Leofwine_draca11 January 2023
BARBARIAN was a film of two halves for me, with a really good and tension-filled first half which keeps you guessing throughout. It goes for the low-key Blumhouse approach and elicits a couple of fine understated performances from Campbell and Skarsgard to strong effect. The Detroit setting is extremely well evoked and some of the subterranean sequences are wonderfully creepy, so that's all for the good. Unfortunately there's a tonal shift halfway through when things get more explicit and rather juvenile at times. We don't need gross-out bits in films like this, even if I did appreciate the overall subtext about male behaviour. Maybe some female involvement behind the camera would have worked better.
Worth Watching
liamsmith-3441619 July 2023
Honestly not a bad movie at all. If you are reading the reviews, the obvious general consensus is that the beginning of the movie was great and the ending sucks. And although that is completely true, I do still think it was worth the watch. The first half of the movie was extremely intriguing and suspenseful to say the least, especially if you watched the trailer and only the trailer before hand (no other spoilers).
Acting was great, climax was corny at times, cinematography was very well done with some really interesting shots, and overall plot was an interesting concept for a majority of the film at least...
If you are considering watching this movie, do it, you will not regret your decision.
Acting was great, climax was corny at times, cinematography was very well done with some really interesting shots, and overall plot was an interesting concept for a majority of the film at least...
If you are considering watching this movie, do it, you will not regret your decision.
Dread enducing to the nth degree with some genuine scares and violent set pieces yet the plot echoes 'DON'T BREATHE' and the atmosphere suggests early Wes Craven.
george.schmidt12 September 2022
BARBARIAN (2022) *** Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgard, Justin Long, Matthew Patrick Davis, Richard Brake. When a young woman arrives at an Airbnb she gets more than she bargained for when she discovers some truly unsettling developments on the premises. Directed within an inch of its life by Zach Cregger who pulls out all the stops and horror tropes that go from the 'Don't' factor to a whole lot of WTF! Sprinkled with some out of left field comedy and dread enducing to the nth degree with some genuine scares and violent set pieces yet the plot echoes 'DON'T BREATHE' and the atmosphere suggests early Wes Craven. Original, unsettling and altogether weird it's definitely a must see.
For a scary movie, it's quite good.
cdavis-5039917 September 2022
A women in town for an job interview finds out her Airbnb is not quite what she though. She finds herself sharing it in a nearly abandoned neighborhood with another visitor that double booked the location by mistake.
This film does a great job and leading you in many directions and flipping everything you thought upside down on itself. It evokes some emotions I had not felt in horror for years. I quite enjoyed it. As every movie, especially scary movies, there were a few plot holes. Although they were easy to overlook. A second viewing would never do it justice. The first time truly is the charm in this graphique horror/thriller.
This film does a great job and leading you in many directions and flipping everything you thought upside down on itself. It evokes some emotions I had not felt in horror for years. I quite enjoyed it. As every movie, especially scary movies, there were a few plot holes. Although they were easy to overlook. A second viewing would never do it justice. The first time truly is the charm in this graphique horror/thriller.
A mix of The Hills Have Eyes and The People Under the Stairs
kevin_robbins11 September 2022
Barbarian (2022) is a movie my wife and I saw in theaters last night. The storyline follows an Airbnb in the bad part of Detroit that is owned by a movie star. This picture follows two storylines, one involving two people who rent it out on the same night and a parallel storyline where the actor who owns the Airbnb gets into legal troubles and needs to consider selling the Airbnb. When the actor visits the location the storylines are bound to cross...
This movie is written and directed by Zach Cregger (Miss March) and stars Georgina Campbell (Krypton), Bill Skarsgård (IT), Richard Brake (31) and Justin Long (Jeepers Creepers).
This movie is really, really good. The storyline is brilliantly put together and reminded me of a mix of The Hills Have Eyes and The People Under the Stairs. The details of the history of the house and the various characters is presented perfectly. This is a very smart film and has some Wes Craven elements that jump out. The cast is outstanding and delivers tremendous performances, especially Long. The horror elements are out of this world and this has a little bit of everything going on - intense location, sudden violence, gore, blood splatter and a tremendous villain(s). This definitely needs a prequel.
Overall, this is a tremendous addition to the horror genre that is an absolute must see. Initially I score this an 8 while my wife scored it a 9. Since she's way smarter than me I'll give this a 9/10.
This movie is written and directed by Zach Cregger (Miss March) and stars Georgina Campbell (Krypton), Bill Skarsgård (IT), Richard Brake (31) and Justin Long (Jeepers Creepers).
This movie is really, really good. The storyline is brilliantly put together and reminded me of a mix of The Hills Have Eyes and The People Under the Stairs. The details of the history of the house and the various characters is presented perfectly. This is a very smart film and has some Wes Craven elements that jump out. The cast is outstanding and delivers tremendous performances, especially Long. The horror elements are out of this world and this has a little bit of everything going on - intense location, sudden violence, gore, blood splatter and a tremendous villain(s). This definitely needs a prequel.
Overall, this is a tremendous addition to the horror genre that is an absolute must see. Initially I score this an 8 while my wife scored it a 9. Since she's way smarter than me I'll give this a 9/10.
Stupid and boring
jcdamien24 December 2022
Although somewhat well acted, this movie is stupid and boring, no story at all, it doesn't even have a plot. Nothing to keep us hooked. The narrative has layers that have no point, and if you watch it waiting for some kind of interesting development, you'll be disappointed.
I'm pretty sure it was filmed in a couple of days. After half an hour I was watching it on the TV while browsing Facebook on my phone.
I wonder what motivated the director to write and make this. It's such a waste of time. If the intention was to make it a cult film, it's a fail. It's a one time watch in a lifetime.
There are so many good horror movies made this year, this falls very short.
I'm pretty sure it was filmed in a couple of days. After half an hour I was watching it on the TV while browsing Facebook on my phone.
I wonder what motivated the director to write and make this. It's such a waste of time. If the intention was to make it a cult film, it's a fail. It's a one time watch in a lifetime.
There are so many good horror movies made this year, this falls very short.
Should have been billed as a horror-comedy.
amychase-432358 September 2022
I saw an advance screening of Barbarian Wed. 9/7/22 at AMC Lowes by the Boston Common. I went into the theatre expecting a horror-thriller as it was billed as such on IMDB/ Rotten Tomatoes. This was far more of a horror-comedy.
The acting was solid. The laughs were well-executed. The plot was anything but predictable. I felt entertained but I did not get the thrill I was looking for from a movie in the thriller/horror genre.
It was not in any way "scary". This film pokes fun at the horror genre and doesn't take itself too seriously. If it's properly billed as a horror/comedy, I would rate this film higher.
The acting was solid. The laughs were well-executed. The plot was anything but predictable. I felt entertained but I did not get the thrill I was looking for from a movie in the thriller/horror genre.
It was not in any way "scary". This film pokes fun at the horror genre and doesn't take itself too seriously. If it's properly billed as a horror/comedy, I would rate this film higher.
Seriously?
Luv2Spooge2 February 2023
Wow... it started out extremely good. All the way until we saw the barbarian and then it is just down hills from there. Like most of these indy horror films, someone has some good premise of an idea and then ultimately fizzles b/c they don't have enough material for a full movie or they simply ran out of ideas how to develop it.
It has so much potential, the first 40 mins was literally flawless... it was intriguing, mysterious, the actors were really great... and it makes you question and ponder who is the real bad guy and what is going on, then... boom... turned into just another hide and seek, slasher, monster, cliche.
2/10.
It has so much potential, the first 40 mins was literally flawless... it was intriguing, mysterious, the actors were really great... and it makes you question and ponder who is the real bad guy and what is going on, then... boom... turned into just another hide and seek, slasher, monster, cliche.
2/10.
Strong start but falls off a cliff
mawriz15 September 2023
The premise was really strong and interesting. It looked like it was gonna be one of my favorite horror films in recent times. The acting was good, the characters were good, but the film fell off a cliff after the monster reveal. It became a comedy. The monsters were scarier when we couldn't see them. After the reveal I couldn't take them seriously.
The characters who were competent at the beginning started to make the dumb decision horror trope. I stopped rooting for them to escape and I didn't care if they got offed. This completely dissolved the tension of the film for me.
So many horror films have a great setup but the writers do not know how to pay it off. This is one of those films.
The characters who were competent at the beginning started to make the dumb decision horror trope. I stopped rooting for them to escape and I didn't care if they got offed. This completely dissolved the tension of the film for me.
So many horror films have a great setup but the writers do not know how to pay it off. This is one of those films.
Creepiness that turns ... flat out weird. Movie starts out great, but by the end turns comical
katiebugg-4997119 March 2023
This movie started off STRONG! It pulled me all the way in. I was immediately thinking: is this man a murderer, is he possessed, is he only a squatter...so many questions ran through my head. What ACTUALLY ends up happening is nowhere near what my mind could've imagined. On the scale of "unique" this one is a 10. On the scale of "weird" an 8.9..not the weirdest thing I've seen, but definitely up there. I feel conflicted in this rating because I want to rate the first two thirds of the movie a 7 or 8 but by the end it was a 3 or 4 at best. Sadly it lost all of its suspense, horror, and fear and it became almost comical. I appreciate that it wasn't aimless. At least there was a storyline to the chaos. But this movie could've been so great had they made it a little more creepy at the end and not so comedic. I do like a couple of laughs in a horror movie..for instance, I enjoyed Justin Long's character, but at the same time I feel like he could've been that narcissistic jerk of a character while also having a strong creepy ending without it turning to straight comedy.
Why so highly rated?
Vagrower8 October 2022
I'm not going to rate this on a disappointment level (which would earn it a 1 star rating) but rather for what it is. And what it is is just a ho-hum horror flick. I was glad to see it steer clear of too many jump scares but it failed to really build up any sense of dread or tension. This may simply be desensitization after watching so many horror flicks. If you are a seasoned veteran then you won't find this to be terrifying in the least. You won't even find it all that original. I was expecting some kind of big reveal, some kind of jaw dropping, unexpected twist as the movie moved into the third act but......I was left disappointed.
Fine camera work and acting and enough tension to make it enjoyable enough but a 7.6 (current rating)? No way.
Fine camera work and acting and enough tension to make it enjoyable enough but a 7.6 (current rating)? No way.
Cregger feels like he is in total control
jtindahouse26 October 2022
Is it just me, or is the horror genre in a really healthy way at the moment? Great horror films like 'Barbarian' are starting to feel like the norm, rather than the exception. It's great. Boy I had a lot of fun with this movie.
This feels like a film where writer/director Zach Cregger was in total control. He directs a brilliant opening segment with tension, mystery and a pay off - and then abruptly cuts away to start introducing a fresh character. Not many filmmakers would have the guts to completely erase all the momentum they have worked incredibly hard to build up, only to start from scratch again. He made it work though.
When this film is tense, it is very tense. The underground setting is nearly the perfect stage for horror to flourish. It's dark, it's claustrophobic, it looks very easy to get lost and you never know what is around the corner.
Finally the dialogue in this movie was perfect. Likeable characters (even the despicable ones had charm) having really interesting interactions. This is how you set up a horror movie. You make us care about the people in it, and then you put them in peril. This one was great. Highly recommend. 9/10.
This feels like a film where writer/director Zach Cregger was in total control. He directs a brilliant opening segment with tension, mystery and a pay off - and then abruptly cuts away to start introducing a fresh character. Not many filmmakers would have the guts to completely erase all the momentum they have worked incredibly hard to build up, only to start from scratch again. He made it work though.
When this film is tense, it is very tense. The underground setting is nearly the perfect stage for horror to flourish. It's dark, it's claustrophobic, it looks very easy to get lost and you never know what is around the corner.
Finally the dialogue in this movie was perfect. Likeable characters (even the despicable ones had charm) having really interesting interactions. This is how you set up a horror movie. You make us care about the people in it, and then you put them in peril. This one was great. Highly recommend. 9/10.
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