#117: Barbarian

Release Date: September 9th, 2022

Format: Streaming (Prime)

Written by: Zach Cregger

Directed by: Zach Cregger

3.5 Stars

Barbarian is a fun, effective horror movie. I was captivated by the first 30 minutes of it - it’s airtight filmmaking. The story begins on a dark, rainy night. Tess pulls up to an AirBnB house on the outskirts of Detroit in a tough looking neighborhood. She has an important job interview in the morning, and she’s distressed to find out that not only can she not find a key in the lockbox to open the house, there is an unknown man inside.

His name is Keith, he reveals after answering the door, and after a brief exchange they discover that they each simultaneously booked the house on opposing websites. Or did they? Tess has her doubts, and we do too. 

Great casting of Bill Skarsgard, who is handsomely creepy. And Georgina Campbell as Tess is a strong choice too, who plays her intelligent and tough, but warm and relatable. 

Is Keith’s name Keith? Did he book the house? Should Tess come in out of the rain so they can call the host and figure all this out? In the meantime, can Keith make her a cup of tea? It looks like the last guest left a bottle of red wine in the kitchen. How about they make a night of it? Tess can take the bedroom, and Keith will take the couch. What could go wrong?

It’s riveting storytelling, and writer/director Zach Cregger hits all the right notes.

Yes, Zach Cregger. If you know that name, there’s a good chance it’s because you used to watch IFC’s cult classic sketch comedy show, The Whitest Kids You Know (I’m a big fan). Good on Zach. No offense, but I was a little surprised. I did not know that he had Hitchcockian suspense in his creative repertoire. 

Well, Hitchcockian for the first act. After the basement reveal and a smash cut to Justin Long driving a convertible down PCH, the film takes a drastic shift in tone. I still liked it, but maybe not as much. I was enjoying the stripped down, Misery-style menace of those first 30 minutes.

But sign me up for future Zach Cregger horror joints. His Barbarian is full of fresh ideas and takes you down deep, winding paths.