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

Masters of the Universe (2026)

Masters of the Universe is directed by Travis Knight , known for Kubo and the Two Strings and Bumblebee , and while the film is competently made, it often struggles with execution. The action sequences look impressive on the surface, but many of the larger one vs. many fights suffer from a common problem where enemies appear to stand around waiting their turn to attack. The script, written by Aaron Nee and Adam Nee , known for The Lost City , takes the story in a direction that feels at odds with what many audiences might expect from a Masters of the Universe adaptation. Rather than embracing the larger than life heroic fantasy at the center of the franchise, the film spends much of its time deconstructing its protagonist in ways that don't always serve the story. Nicholas Galitzine , known for The Idea of You and Red, White & Royal Blue , plays He-Man and does what he can with the material. The character is written in a way that often undermines the masculinity associate...
Post a Comment
Read more

Scary Movie (2026)

Scary Movie is directed by Michael Tiddes , known for A Haunted House and Naked , and while he has shown a knack for broad parody comedy in the past, this film never quite finds its rhythm. Much of the blame falls on the screenplay by Rick Alvarez , which jumps rapidly from gag to gag without establishing enough momentum for many of the jokes to land. The movie constantly feels like it is searching for its next laugh rather than confidently building toward one, resulting in a scattered experience that struggles to maintain energy. Anna Faris , known for The House Bunny and the original Scary Movie series, returns as Cindy and slips back into the role with ease. Her performance feels very much in line with her previous appearances, capturing the same exaggerated innocence and comedic timing that made the character memorable in the first place. Even when the material isn't particularly strong, Faris remains committed and helps carry the film through some of its weaker stretches....
Post a Comment
Read more

Tuner (2026)

Tuner is written and directed by Daniel Roher and centers around a piano tuner who becomes involved in cracking safes, balancing his growing criminal life with his personal relationships. The film has a very specific tone that will not work for everyone, but it knows exactly what audience it is aiming for. Roher keeps the story grounded and character-focused, allowing the tension to come more from personal choices and atmosphere than from explosive action. It moves at a deliberate pace, which may lose some viewers, but those willing to settle into its rhythm will likely appreciate what it is doing. Leo Woodall , known for The White Lotus and One Day , plays the lead role and does a strong job carrying the film. He balances the nervousness and charm of the character well, making the transition between ordinary working man and reluctant criminal believable. Woodall gives the film its emotional center and keeps the quieter moments engaging through sheer screen presence. Havana Rose L...
Post a Comment
Read more