Barbarian Review: An ESSENTIAL Horror Film!

In my eyes, the best marketing for a horror movie leaves every critical detail as ambiguous as possible, forcing the audience to experience the full extent of the scares themselves. Being able to witness Barbarian without any expectations whatsoever let me embrace everything it had to offer. To such a great length, this was one of the most fulfilling cinematic experiences of the year. The movie stars Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, Justin Long and Richard Brake in the lead roles.

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The plot synopsis of Barbarian details the convergence of a young woman and a man who were unsuspectedly double booked at an Airbnb. Uncertainty rises over their unfamiliarity, especially as some chilling discoveries are made about the house. With that, the viewer might think they have everything they need to understand this film. Think again, because this movie left me shocked and intrigued by its direction.

Barbarian is the rare type of horror film that pulsates through my skeleton after watching. It is owed to the directing of Zach Cregger that this horror movie is as effective as it is. What we are shown directly in the frame can be quite chilling, utilizing great lighting and production design to elevate the suspense. However, there are moments that require the audience to conceptualize what is happening, which are far more effective.

Additionally, there is a healthy balance of comedy included in this film. It was quite impressive how Cregger could balance the tone and transition between suspense and humor. The actors contribute massively to this as well. Georgina Campbell is excellent throughout the entirety of the film, and Justin Long’s inclusion in the film took it to even greater heights. The film knew to have a sense of humor, but it hardly detracted from the escalation of tension. It only became bothersome when it contributed to characters making poor decisions to further endanger them, but in some instances, I actually found that to be appropriately utilized.

Barbarian was a fun and refreshing experience I have longed to see in a theater for quite some time. I and the audience that was with me were hooked on the film through its entire runtime. If you are a horror fan, this film is ESSENTIAL for you!

‘Barbarian’ Rating – 4/5

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