Directed By Zach Cregger

Starring – Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgard, Justin Long

The Plot – In town for a job interview, a young woman (Campbell) arrives at her Airbnb late at night only to find that her rental has been mistakenly double-booked and a strange man (Skarsgard) is already staying there. Against her better judgement, she decides to stay the night anyway, but soon discovers that there is much more to be afraid of in the house than the other house guest.

Rated R for some strong violence and gore, disturbing material, adult language throughout and nudity

BARBARIAN | Official Trailer | In Theaters September 9 – YouTube

POSITIVES

This is a viscerally grotesque directorial debut from Cregger, who ties in the unforgiving evolution of Detroit’s rich history with a thorough character study on what properly defines a man as a bad person. These are of course the aspects beneath the subtext of a film stuffed with surprises, both in the progression of the narrative at the forefront, but also in the depiction of the unnerving visuals, cementing this as an unforgettable experience with much to appreciate in Creggor’s craft. For starters, the artistic merit flourishes throughout the many atmospheric elements, with Zach Kuperstein’s versatile cinematography and Anna Durbich’s scintillating score effectively triggering the tension that grows to boiling and suffocating limits throughout several unique payoffs. The former diverts between first person perspectives, in-place transitions, and claustrophobic proximity that really conjures a fear of the inevitable persisting in the distance, while playing tricks on your mind for what our eyes can capably make-out in the dark, and Durbich combines thunderous roars with rhythmic hymns that serve as the electricity to make the hairs on your arms stand up throughout. For the scares themselves, I appreciate that Creggor once more diverts attention away from the predictable, instead incorporating several red herrings in camera movements that usually convey jump scares, but instead never indulges on the low-hanging fruit that could’ve compromised his cadence. The scares are certainly there, mainly in the visuals that he uses to properly tell the story, but especially in the outstanding practical effects in make-up designs that articulate a decaying essence to the actors supplanted with them. As previously indicated, the surprises are aplenty, taking this story in unique directions both in structure and tone that no one could’ve coherently anticipated from such an ambiguously deceiving trailer, in turn leaving the most bang of impact on the screen for those who paid the price to endure its endless wraths. The setting of Detroit is one I’ve always appreciated for horror movies, but here truly scales the abusive history and isolation factor of those still plagued by its dangerous streets, all the while prescribing a psychological insight in commentary to some of the experiences by police officers and various townsfolk that are unfortunately still a reality to this day. Aside from technical and creative merits, the film is superbly acted, with Campbell and a returning Justin Long sharing many shining moments beneath their terrified registries. Campbell balances a nuanced vulnerability with intelligence that really makes the most compelling of protagonists that we capably and confidently get behind, and Justin revels in the devilish details of a mansplaining extraordinaire, embellishing shamelessly in the selfishness of his splendor that often gets the best of others he comes across, with no remorse or awareness hanging overhead in the balance. Both of them make the most of their respective opportunities, but for entirely different reasons, giving the characterization a three-dimensional versatility that really allows the natural dialogue to flow smoothly in their grasps.

NEGATIVES

The biggest problem that I have with this film stems in the final five minutes, which continue the consistency of flying off of the rails that the previous 90 minutes established for entertainment, but here in ways that logically require a massive leap of faith to capably interpret. Without spoiling anything, there’s an action that happens between two characters that not only is gravitationally illogical in concept, but also unintentionally hilarious for how it’s framed and captured in the climax of the confrontational conflict. In addition to this, the film just kind of ends abruptly, with even some credits sharing their inaugural minutes with the closing moments of the film, and unfortunately falling flat for a film that was riveting every step of the way prior. Beyond this, the tonal shifts between various acts and character switches in perspectives didn’t feel properly balanced, with comedy dominating far too much of the second act. This is expected not only with Creggor, who himself is one of the founding members of the popular TV sketch comedy show “The Whitest Kids You Know”, but also in Long, whose improvisation has always forced directors to leave the camera running for just a little longer, however I feel like here it comes at a compromise of the thickness of atmospheric dread, which was channeled perfectly during the opening act, but here quickly evaporates for a sharp turn in direction that I feel will serve as the litmus test for people’s final grade on this film. The comedy itself is effective, leading to several awkward laughs for my interpretation, but its lingering directly undercut the adrenaline for the film during the moment it was coming into its own, leading to more patience than I was expecting in a film that barely clocks in at 98 minutes.

OVERALL
“Barbarian” is an unpredictably and unforgettable gem of grotesque horror that does for Creggor what 2017’s “Get Out” did for Jordan Peele. In constantly staying one step ahead of his audience at all times, the rookie director manages to concoct a ruthlessly riveting thrill-ride with as many dips and dives as the most thunderous roller-coaster, where the screams and chills come naturally from the artist who knows confidently where to place them.

My Grade: 8/10 or B+