Director: Zach Cregger
Writer: Zach Cregger
Stars: Georgina Campbell, Justin Long, Bill Skarsgård
Synopsis: A woman staying at an Airbnb discovers that the house she has rented is not what it seems.
There’s an unparalleled glee that can occur when watching a finely-crafted horror film. Many may believe this to be the elation received from the efforts to dive deeper into stronger thematic commentary, aiming to link dreadful settings with profound emotional disclosures. While such storytelling is greatly appreciated, there is still a particular joy to be found in more broad pleasures, when the thrills lean more into spectacle and produce a more universally entertaining presentation. The ambition to Barbarian is not within its reach for catharsis but rather the assembly of its interwoven narrative. Its efforts are not completely successful, but they are incredibly captivating and delightful to uncover.
As the film opens, Tess (Georgina Campbell) has just arrived at a small home in the middle of a decrepit Detroit neighborhood. She has come to stay at an Airbnb that she has rented, but notices she is unable to enter the property. That is because the location was double-booked, and another resident is already there. Theo (Bill Skarsgård) is just as confused at this situation, and he and Georgina decide to temporarily cohabitate until this ordeal can be resolved the following day. However, as they settle into their new surroundings, an ominous feeling descends upon them. This house has secrets of its own which will ultimately reveal themselves, and this eventually leads to horrifying conclusions.
Part of the thrill when watching these events unfold is the mystery of not being fully aware of what direction this narrative is hurtling toward. The simple set-up leads to more discoveries which guide the audience through one unpredictable turn after another. Writer-director Zach Cregger has a confidence in the filmmaking which plays with those expectations, setting a moody atmosphere that utilizes its sparse setting to great effect. Every out-of-focus shadow in the background heightens the tension, and the unassuming production design is actually a valuable asset in crafting this frightening perspective. The soundscape is also exceptional in its execution, and Cregger’s overall direction is wholly engrossing in the creation of a suspenseful exercise.
The twisty nature of the plot is both the source of the film’s greatest strengths and weaknesses. While it is exhilarating to mine through every new revelation that is thrown one’s way, the excessive declarations eventually wear off their novelty. As the finale starts to emerge, the screenplay feels stifled, as if it has explored every avenue it can and therefore has little room to keep up its advancing momentum. The threads, which were compelling to follow in the beginning, become frayed at the ends and don’t land with much impact. This also makes the more comedic tonal shifts peppered throughout all the more jarring and unpleasant. That isn’t to say there aren’t engaging elements, but it becomes clear that for all the cleverness this script has, it eventually does collapse in on itself and contains far less power than when it started.
Campbell has a grounded presence that makes her quite the capable protagonist. There’s a realistic personality to her portrayal, ever the key to portraying an effective horror heroine. She doesn’t have many opportunities to showcase an amazing performance, but she does inhabit an absorbing anchor. Skarsgård is able to infuse his role with an aura that is both endearing yet suspicious, a perfect calibration to ratchet up the tension while also having a disarming demeanor. It’s a quality he so naturally possesses as an actor, and it is well-utilized here. Justin Long is the other notable member of this cast, making an appearance later in the film as a person with another connection to the property. While his introduction is oddly presented and the source of most of the laborious humor, Long’s performance is enticing. His character placates to a nicety that covers a toxic and insidious core, and he peels back these layers in a method that is impressive. All the actors do a commendable job at keeping one invested right along with the journey their characters are forced to endure.
No doubt that it is best to go into Barbarian knowing as little as possible. That unearthing is part of what makes this piece so enthralling. The expedition through these many facets of the story are what make it an exciting venture, building upon that foundation that pushes one further towards finding out just what direction one will be pulled towards next. It is a shame that such energy could not be sustained, and it loses a great deal of steam by the time the end is reached. However, it is still an amusing excursion regardless, and a shining example of how wildly entertaining the genre can be. If the film’s finer details can be avoided, the experience will be that much more rewarding.
