’Barbarian’ review: Dir. Zach Cregger [Celluloid Screams 2022]

It has already been out for a little while in America, but Barbarian is finally arriving in the UK from Friday 28th October. Ahead of that national release date, it screened at Celluloid Screams as the festival’s annual secret movie. The fact that Barbarian’s screening was kept quiet right until the moment that it screened ties into the film perfectly as Barbarian is best viewed knowledge free. 

To talk about too many of the plot points of Barbarian would spoil parts that need to be seen cold. What we can share is that Barbarian is a story about an AirBnB and those that stay within it. Opening on a rainy night, Tess (Georgina Campbell) arrives at her booked accommodation. Unable to find the key she discovers someone else, Keith (Bill Skarsgård), is already inside. The property has been double-booked due to an oversight of the host. With no other options, Tess and Keith agree to share the establishment for the night. This inconvenience is the least of concerns however, as Barbarian quickly falls down a warren of intrigue, suspense, and all-out horror. 

Barbarian shifts focus between multiple characters during its run time and in doing so allows writer and director Zach Cregger to tease the audience. This is a film that has two distinct tonal shifts; Cregger keeps the viewer on the edge of their seats. The opening sequence is kept strictly tense, Tess and Keith circling each other. Their story and interaction is one portrayed onscreen plenty of times before, but even the most savvy horror viewer won’t be able to predict where Barbarbian goes. An ever tightening corkscrew of intensity, the audience are placed firmly in Tess’ world. The viewer experience’s everything through her jaded female eyes. Cregger does an excellent job at conveying just how prepared for danger the modern woman has had to be. Women in the audience will share an immediate kinship with the character and sit nodding their heads as she does (almost) all the right things. 

This focus shifts later to Justin Long’s AJ who is the epitome of toxic masculinity. He is self-involved and constantly wants to belittle or ignore the women around him. Were his character to be played as strict and as seriously as the opening, Barbarian would be nerve-shredding for its entire duration. Instead, AJ is played for laughs. Helped immensely by Log’s natural talent for comedy, AJ’s introduction is a tonal jar from what the audience have just experienced. He offers an effective ice-breaker and opportunity for your heart-rate to return to normal. But before long, AJ is on the same path as has been seen before. This time the viewer knows what to expect, but instead of diluting the power or the scare, it makes it all the more terrifying. 

Whereas Tess is constantly on the lookout for danger, AJ isn’t. He demonstrates the obliviousness that most men have to the dangers around them. Cregger uses both characters to highlight the very different way in which men and women exist in our modern society. It’s an excellent and important nugget of social commentary to include, one that may open a few eyes or two. As events start to collide, the mystery at the heart of Barbarian is revealed. It is dark in tone and nature, and proves that sometimes knowing more is far worse, counterpointing that the age old adage of less is more. Every reveal is carefully orchestrated. Cregger peels back layer upon layer of onion skins under which rest increasingly more bleak moments. Barbarian is a true funfair ride of horror, the Ghost Train experience brought to life. Strap in for the fright of your life. 

Barbarian was reviewed at Celluloid Screams 2022. Barbarian arrives in UK cinemas on Friday 28th October 2022.