"Barbarian" review: Refreshingly simple, original, and resourceful

 

"Barbarian," 2022, directed by Zach Cregger

★★★½☆

Somewhere in between the ugliest, most inane bargain-bin horror movies and the largest studio titles like the latest “Scream” and “Halloween” reboots, there is a sweet spot. Usually, these "sweet spot" movies land a budget between one and six million dollars, and often, but not always, push the limits of gore and spectacle, assembling a the type of flick that gets put on late at night at a high school slumber party or, sometimes, if horror fans are lucky, a cult classic that warrants annual screenings. Admittedly, Barbarian, the new, highly original and compact feature from "Whitest Kids U'Know" comic Zach Cregger, doesn't quite earn that cult classic status, but it's an incredibly fun and gleefully gruesome theatrical experience.


What is almost certainly Cregger's strongest element at his disposal is that of surprise. The plot first takes shape as an eerie vacation rental mix-up; protagonist Tess (Georgina Campbell) arrives at her Airbnb to discover it's been double booked -- Keith (Bill Skarsgård) has booked the same house on HomeAway. Keith is seemingly well-meaning, if a little creepy, but the house's basement reveals far more sinister evils than Tess or the viewer could possibly see coming. 


"Barbarian" is at its best at its simplest, when the tension builds into stomach-churning practical gore effects, accompanied by a bassy, droning soundtrack that seems to echo in the film's barren, dimly-lit environments. Campbell and Skarsgård both excel in their roles, as does a Justin Long as a consummately heinous supporting villain. Editing and pacing also stand out as strengths, allowing Cregger to put his understanding of comedic momentum to good use. Where the film struggles is in its calmer moments, in which it attempts to build the world around its characters. While the concepts that the story wields are mostly succinctly communicated, the story also hinges on queasy peripheral use of rape and incest that feels indifferent at worst and misguided at best.  


While it's not the most groundbreaking horror flick to hit theaters in recent memory, "Barbarian"'s strengths outweigh its follies, largely thanks to a strong cast, a great sense of timing, and the unexpected turns the script takes. As a first foray into the horror genre, Cregger has not disappointed. "Barbarian" is in theaters right now.

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