You Shouldn’t Read This ‘Barbarian’ Review
Mary Beth McAndrews
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On most occasions I want people to read my reviews. But today is the rare exception where I caution you not to. Why? Because Zach Cregger’s (of Whitest Kids U’Know fame) new film Barbarian is a film that needs to be experienced in theaters, with the biggest audience possible (if you’re comfortable going to the theater). This is a quintessential spooky season movie: it’s surrounded by mystery but marketing has given us just enough of a taste to prep our palates and titillate our tastebuds. I’m happy to report that it’s worth the hype and then some. But I caution you against reading anything about it before you see it; this is a dish best served cold. No seriously, go in cold.
For those of you who want just a crumb more information before committing to the theatrical experience, here’s our spoiler-free review of Barbarian.
The film opens with Tess (a stunning Georgina Campbell) arriving at her Airbnb in Detroit. It’s pouring down rain, she has a job interview in the morning, and she just wants to get inside to sleep. However, the key isn’t in the lockbox. In fact, there’s someone else staying here. A light turns on in the living room and Keith (Bill Skarsgard) answers the door. After an awkward and tense exchange, Tess decides to come in and iron out the issue. But, she’s understandably on her guard. There’s a strange man in her Airbnb and it’s late at night in what’s been labeled as a “dangerous” neighborhood (read: abandoned due to gentrification).
It’s such a common horror set-up that genre fans will find themselves already plotting out what’s next like it’s their jobs. I’m guilty of this, I’ll admit it. But, Cregger is always two steps ahead of us. He knows what we expect from a horror movie, and he toys with us. Yes, attractive yet creepy Bill Skarsgard (aka Pennywise) at an Airbnb is going to make our alarm bells go off. But having him be a creep would just be too predictable. So Cregger shoots for the stars and lands in some weird hell dimension that’s pretty disturbing but damn entertaining.
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Perhaps the most unexpected twist of Barbarian is its searing indictment of men’s treatment of women. From the get-go, we occupy Tess’s POV as we stressfully wait for Skarsgard to get violent. Cregger never makes Tess look bad for that assumption, but rather carefully follows her as she tries to keep herself safe in a scenario straight out of a lifetime movie. Tess and Keith orbit each other with suspicion, a nightmare plucked from any woman’s lived experience. Campbell really shines here as she walks a line between acting badass while also being terrified.
Then we meet Justin Long’s AJ. Congratulations to Long because he creates one of the most punchable characters of the year in Barbarian. He is toxic masculinity embodied, a man full of entitlement who believes women exist to fuck and manipulate. The longer his character is on screen, and the more he reveals about what’s going on here, the more Cregger reveals what Barbarian is really about: men ain’t shit.
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At almost two hours long, Barbarian is almost perfectly paced until the third act. With so many bizarre twists and reveals, the ending becomes something so large that the film crumbles underneath itself. Cregger is just doing so much here that it’s practically impossible to tie it all up with a pretty bow. And that’s the beauty not just of Barbarian, but of the current horror landscape. Movies don’t need to have the perfect conclusion with all questions answered and all viewers satisfied. We’re in an era where studios are starting to give filmmakers like Cregger liberties to make movies like Barbarian that are deeply upsetting, unrelenting, and darkly fun. To really put it in perspective, since this is being released by 20th Century Studios, this is technically a Disney movie. Let that sink in.
If you’ve ignored my warning and read this entire review, I like you, rule breaker. This also hopefully means you’ll be going straight to the theater this weekend to experience Barbarian. Barbarian is a movie made to decimate our expectations and preconceived notions about horror. With Barbarian, Cregger shows just how well he knows the genre and its fans. Come for the mystery, stay for the unpredictable twists and turns because we’re going to be talking about this one for years to come.
Summary
‘Barbarian’ is an unpredictable, disturbing, and twisted horror experience that’ll have fans buzzing for years to come. Run to the theaters before reading this review.
