What Made ‘Barbarian’ Such An Enjoyable Spooky Season Movie? [Glamberween]

I’ve never stayed at an Airbnb. The one time I was really considering it seemed more hassle than it was worth. It made more sense to just stay at a hotel, but after seeing “Barbarian” I’m sure I will never stay at one.

*spoilers ahead*

Written and directed by Zach Cregger, “Barbarian” stars Georgina Campbell as Tess. She goes to Detroit for a job interview and arrives the evening prior on a rainy night to stay at a rental home. Tess is having trouble trying to gain access to the house until a handsome occupant, Keith (Bill Skarsgård), answers the door. Apparently, the home has been double-booked, and for some reason…Tess decides to stay. I know Bill Skarsgård is fine and all, but there’s no way I would have stayed in that house.

Nothing too crazy happens the first night Tess and Keith spend in the home. A door mysteriously opens here, and thuds against the walls there, but it’s clearly something off not only with this house but the neighborhood. It’s the only house that’s not abandoned and there’s nobody around for miles. When Tess goes for her interview, her potential employer Catherine (Kate Nichols) insists she should not be in that area. As an audience member, we’re trying to figure out why. Upon returning, Tess goes into the basement and gets trapped. Every horror movie fan or anyone with half a brain knows how bad that is. Throughout the duration of the movie I straight up turned into Brenda from “Scary Movie.”

The movie is broken down into three parts that combine all the layers of the story in the end. Justin Long also has a key role in “Barbarian” and plays AJ Gilbride, a disgraced actor facing sexual assault charges and travels to Detroit to liquidate properties to cover court costs. There wasn’t too many jump scares in “Barbarian,” but the tension built in the movie was great. As characters were entering places you know they shouldn’t it was as if you were following them, walking side by side and going into the danger right with them. I love horror movies where you don’t know where the story is going and will have you laughing with fear.

In the final 15 minutes of “Barbarian,” all bets are off and the plot goes off the rails in the best way. You’ll be shaking your head at the audacity, shocked by the gore, and wide-eyed at the twists. For me “Barbarian” isn’t a groundbreaking horror film, but it’s a fun time watching a movie with thrills to keep you guessing. I loved the way it was structured and how it didn’t need a large cast to effectively tell a story. If you’re not into horror movies but still like something with suspense then I think this is a safe option because it’s more about the actions of the characters than trying to scare you. You’ll be talking to the screen trying to will characters to do what you would do and who doesn’t love an interactive movie experience like that. I would rate “Barbarian” as 3.0/5.

“Barbarian” is streaming now on HBO Max.

Have you watched “Barbarian” yet? What did you think? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Photo: 20th Century Studios