Barbarian Review: Graphic Horror Film That Will Send Chills Down Your Spine

Barbarian is a horror/mystery thriller film about a young woman who mistakenly rents an Airbnb inside a shady neighbourhood along with a fellow stranger, only to discover the haunting secret of the place. The movie is written and directed by Zach Cregger (Miss March, Love and Air Sex) and stars Georgina Campbell (Suspicion, Wildcat) in the titular role. Notably, the film has a running time of one hour and forty-two minutes.

The rest of the cast includes Bill Skarsgard as Keith Toshko, Justin Long as AJ Gilbride, Mathew Patrick Davis as the Mother, Richard Brake as Frank, Kurt Braunohler as Doug, Jaymes Butler as Andre, J.R. Esposito as Jeff, Kate Bosworth as Melisa, Sophie Sörensen as Bonnie Zane, Brooke Dillman as AJ’s Mom and Sara Paxton as Nursing Video Narration. The film is produced by Regency Enterprises and Almost Never Films.

-Barbarian Review Does Not Contain Spoilers-

The film starts off with a young woman named Tess Marshal (played by Georgina Campbell) who arrives in a new town for a possible job interview. She discovers that the app mixed up her rental house with another stranger, who is already staying in the house. When the stranger informs her that there is no hotel room available in the town, she decides to spend the night in the suspicious town.

Soon, Tess finds out that there is a third individual living inside the house, which puts her in an extremely dangerous situation. Before she can try any attempts to escape, the new individual starts a graphic horror show.

The film adheres to all the principles of a fine horror flick from the start until the end. It has all the components in the form of a brutal killer, a happenstance event, and a trio of desperate renters. It sticks to the scares and graphic violence as the USP and ultimately works without any friction.

It also attempts to explore sub-themes in the form of character exchanges. For instance, a subtle commentary on male dependency, accusations and violent crimes. Although these themes are largely left for the viewer’s interpretation, the central element of graphic horror makes up for the bulk of it.

Also Read: Kanye West’s Album Sales and Streams Drop After Hateful Remarks

Justin Long comes almost after the first act of the film in the form of a sitcom star who finds a rental place to stay low after being accused of sexual misconduct. His character floats in moral decisions and immediately finds himself in danger due to his stupid curiosity. The role adds nuance to the film and also provides a scary and fresh perspective. Meanwhile, Bill Skarsgard doesn’t have a longer screen time but does his job rightfully.

Georgina Campbell is the driving force of the horror film, with a small yet significant arc. Her scenes with “The Mother” are spine-chilling and will definitely keep you on your toes.

Barbarian Final Thoughts

The film carries a perfect amount of thrill and horror, layered with the characteristic unfolding mystery. Furthermore, it is definitely not an easy watch for a non-horror fan but it will be a mighty treat for enthusiasts of the genre. The credit should be given to Zach Cregger for presenting a well-made horror flick without any usual trend of monotony.

You can watch the chilling horror movie on HBO Max. Tell us your thoughts about the flick in the comment section below.

Also Read: All Quiet on the Western Front: Everything To Know About the World War l Movie