Skip to main content

Barbarian (2022)

 




Barbarian is about a woman staying at an AirBnB and discovers that there is more to the house she has rented than what was expected.

Written and Directed by Zach Cregger, Barbarian is the third film behind Miss March and The Civil War on Drugs. Both were forgettable and both were before Cregger knew really how to direct. This change is night and day, almost like how Ben Affleck made the switch over from doing Gili in 2003 to The Town in 2010. The writing is just shy of great. A great horror film will keep you wondering just how things will end. There certainly were moments I was wondering just how Cregger would end this film. There are some predictable scenes and certain directorial choices make you believe for a second that something else is happening entirely. There is one scene of exposition I despised and didn't help the storyline at all except pander to audiences that aren't intelligent.

Georgina Campbell plays Tess, the main character. She is expressive and carries the film. She's vulnerable and smart. There are scenes where she does the logical choice unlike many 70s and 80s horror. I had never seen her before in anything but she's probably best known for Black Mirror since most people don't have apple tv and have seen the show Suspicion. 


Bill Skarsgard plays a character who at first you're not sure if you should trust and then later down the line you definitely find out if you were right or wrong. There's a great line in the film where he says "Do I look like a monster?" where I smiled at that thought since he played Pennywise in Steven King's It. I enjoyed his performance for what he did.

Justin Long's character wasn't relatable but every adult audience member could quickly recognize where Cregger was going with this character. He made choices that were suitable for his character and the audience will really want to root against his character's survival. This isn't Long's first horror rodeo as he was in his breakout role for Jeepers Creepers, (some might say Galaxy Quest but I disagree) Tusk, and Idiocracy. Yes, I consider that a horror film. Just look at how scary that film was.

I started with a grade higher than where it settled. I tend to rate horror movies higher at first glance and then upon longer inspection, they go lower for my grading. It started at a low A- and now I'm settled on a B+.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Shelter (2026)

Shelter (2026) follows a former special operative forced to take down the same organization that once employed him. The story is cookie cutter and very familiar, so the burden falls on the acting and character moments to keep things engaging. It borrows heavily from the John Wick style of action design, and while it never reaches those highs, it stays watchable. The ,  Ric Roman Waugh,  keeps the pacing tight and the action clear, even if the storytelling never rises above standard protection thriller territory. The film understands its lane and does not try to reinvent it, which helps prevent it from completely falling apart when the script goes predictable. Jason Statham , known for The Transporter and The Beekeeper , does exactly what you expect. He brings physical credibility and efficient screen presence to the role. The emotional side of the character is thinner, but the action work carries his performance and keeps the film moving. Bodhi Rae Breathnach , recognized...
Post a Comment
Read more

Mercy (2026)

Mercy (2026) is a near future thriller built around the idea of an AI acting as judge, jury, and executioner. The premise is familiar but effective, and the film moves at a steady pace as a wrongfully convicted man races to prove his innocence. It feels like the kind of mid budget sci fi thriller that used to be more common, especially in early year release windows. Timur Bekmambetov , known for Wanted and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter , directs the film with a functional but uneven hand. His hit or miss track record continues here. The movie is cleanly shot and easy to follow, but there are few moments of visual flair or tension that elevate it beyond its concept. Chris Pratt , recognizable from Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World , plays the wrongly convicted father and detective. He does a solid job with the emotional beats and sells the desperation well. His portrayal of alcoholism, however, never fully convinces and feels more implied than lived in. Rebecca Ferguson...
Post a Comment
Read more

Talk to Me (2023)

  Talk to Me is an Australian horror film about a group of friends who discover how to speak to the dead. Or do they?  Directed by the brothers Michael and  Danny Philippou, Talk to Me is their first attempt at a feature film. It was a pretty decent introduction too as they made the transition from shorts and clips to movies. When you see their channel you don't really tend to think they'll do well in horror but they did have some help writing with Daley Pearson.  Parents will know him as Rocko  from the kid's show Bluey .  Sophie Wilde  plays the main teenager Mia. At first, she comes across as an angsty teen but as you get to know her through the writing and dialogue, you tend to understand more why she is so distant from her father and holding onto her few friends. This was her film debut and she did a great job. Also, she came up with the concept for the film too. The most recognizable person in the film is Miranda Otto  who is better known fo...
Post a Comment
Read more