Barbarian is a twisted, shocking, surprising, and downright weird movie. All of these things come together to make it one of the best thrillers in years.
Barbarian is one of the most insane thrillers that has been released in years. It is one of those movies that will sit with viewers for days, weeks, even months, as they think about the wild ride that they went on. This film is a ton of fun, from start to finish (and especially in the middle).
Going in to much more detail than that is going to be difficult, as Barbarian truly deserves for audiences to go in completely blind, knowing nothing about the film or what they are about to experience. It is highly recommended that you see this one in a packed theater with a crowd that is unafraid to get loud. Yell at the screen, scream during the jump scares, and just have fun, because at the heart of it, that is what this film is all about.
Inspired by a chapter in a book that details all the little red flags that should be noted during a conversation, writer director Zach Cregger did not start out with the intention of writing a full movie. Instead he thought it would be fun to create a scene where two people meet, and one of them exhibits red flags, perhaps unknowingly, by doing things such as compliments, favors, and touching that is not asked for.
That is how Barbarian starts — part romantic comedy, part thriller — but as it goes on it develops into something so totally different. This movie is extremely unique and quite frankly, unlike anything that has been seen before. It just keeps twisting and turning, with almost every pivotal moment in the script being a surprise.
Barbarian is very well written. It is smart, clever, and terrifying. The scary moments don’t always come from expected sources either, and we are not just talking about the jump scares here. This movie explores what a monster is, what a barbarian is, in a way that makes real life truly horrifying.
Viewers will connect with the most unexpected characters, as well as love to hate others. Clocking in at just one hour and forty-two minutes, Barbarians flies by. There are intense and suspenseful moments where the audience can sit with what the heck is going on, but they are never left there too long that they will be checking their watch and eager to leave.
The writing is brilliant and while there are some minimal issues, nothing takes away from the sheer wonder of it all. Zach Cregger is clearly inspired by Sam Raimi, who is one of the best in the horror business, but Barbarians doesn’t seem like an imitation of his work.
This film has blood, gore, and some incredible chase sequences. It is shocking, terrifying, and somehow also quite funny. Barbarians is best seen on the big screen, in a room full of people that all have no clue what they are in for. Trust us, you won’t see anything coming — and that is what works so well about it.
Rating: 4 out of 5
NEXT: How “The Gift of Fear” Inspired Barbarian
About Barbarian
A young woman discovers the rental home she booked is already occupied by a stranger. Against her better judgment, she decides to spend the night but soon discovers there’s a lot more to fear than just an unexpected house guest.
Barbarian comes to theaters September 9th.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.
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