Barbarian (2022) Movie Review

When you watch Barbarian, the first feeling you get is one of satisfaction - the satisfaction of not wasting your time on trash content. With so much bad content out there, Barbarian is a breath of fresh air, a horror film on the surface but with a tragic tale of helplessness and cruelty at its heart. Director Zach Cregger has managed to marry the tender and the visceral in his storytelling, and the performances of Georgina Campbell and Matthew Davis are quite moving.

Barbarian is a film that pushes genre boundaries and delivers a refreshing take on the “haunted house” trope. There are several sub-genres within the film that are smartly placed, and with almost every scene, Cregger surprises the viewer and defies expectations. The narrative is constantly unfolding, and the central mystery of the woman and her origin story is paced to perfection.

The film's premise involves Tess, played by Campbell, staying in an Airbnb located in a "bad neighbourhood." The house has been double rented, meaning it has two occupants who booked it from two different apps, one of whom is a weird-looking predator-type played by Bill Skarsgard. Although the night goes rather pleasantly, something or someone in the house quickly takes over the focus and throws the story in a completely new direction.

One of Barbarian's most likeable qualities is how Cregger has put together a film that is constantly unfolding. He has deftly integrated various eras into one, using time as the significant denominator. The deflections in the narrative do not feel forced or jarring; they all serve the purpose of tying up these different eras into one, using time as the significant denominator.

Barbarian also features social commentary that is ever so slight and executed in a dark comedy-style. The film's visual language really gives a rich and well-rounded feel to the story. It is not just a horror film but something more tender and human that is relatable. The place where the story is set is dark and unyielding, yet the message is one of "finding love in the darkest of places."

Despite all these positives, there are some raw elements in the way Cregger sets up and concludes the story. He admits to "stumbling upon" the story as he started writing the scene in the house. Those elements in the basement came way later in the creative process, and that may be why the film feels a little light on details. The framework for the story seems a bit incomplete in his mind.

Auteurs like Tarantino extensively sketch out the background of their characters and the places they envision. That depth is lacking in Barbarian, which affects the viewing experience. Cregger leaves too many things to the imagination, which is not the best look for the film. The final product feels a bit derivative, as if Cregger borrowed certain elements from different works and placed them together in his cinematic universe to see what came out the other end.

Despite these flaws, Barbarian is a thoroughly enjoyable standalone film and a great introduction to the twisted mind of Zach Cregger, who still has a long way to go.

Barbarian, directed by Zach Cregger, is a film that offers a refreshing take on the horror genre. The first impression that you get from watching the movie is satisfaction, as you realize you have not wasted your time on bad content. It is no secret that bad content is rampant, and finding a gem like Barbarian among the rubble is a welcome relief.

Although Barbarian appears to be a horror film on the surface, it is a tragic tale of helplessness and cruelty at its core. However, the movie does not dwell on the sadness for too long, as the director balances the tender and the visceral in his storytelling. Georgina Campbell and Matthew Davis deliver moving performances, which further enhance the film's quality.