BARBARIAN (2022)

 

(Director/screenwriter: Zach Cregger)

Review

Tess Marshall (Georgina Campbell) arrives at an Airbnb house (476 Barbary Street) in Detroit, Michigan, in the falling-apart neighborhood of Brightmoor. She’s staying there for a job interview (as a researcher for a documentary filmmaker) she has the next day. When Tess gets there, problems begin immediately—the house key isn’t in the lockbox like it’s supposed to be; the person who rent it to her can’t be reached by cell phone; she discovers that the house has been double-booked.

The other guest is Keith M. Toshko (Bill Skarsgård, IT, 2017), a gentlemanly, friendly but possibly sketchy man who causes Tess’s guard to come up, even after he confirms his Airbnb reservation and does nothing but nice things for her. Her suspicions continue for a little while, then odd things begin to happen, causing her to rethink her situation, like: why is their Airbnb, the only pristine house in the neighborhood, surrounded by such exurb ruins? What are all the weird, whispery noises she hears when she’s trying to sleep?

It’s not long before BARBARIAN, a mixed genre horror film, shifts gears and lead characters—for better or worse, depending on the viewer. The occasionally gory movie, with its deft pacing (hello, editor Joe Murphy) and touches of dark humor, well-timed reveals, effective audio effects and makeup FX, and often smart characters (usually women), initially has the audio and visual feel of a David Fincher work; later, its tone/feel is that of a Sam Raimi flick, something director/screenwriter Cregger (who cameos as Everett) has noted in at least one interview.

BARBARIAN sports some noteworthy actors, beyond its initial leads:

Kate Nichols (DOOM: ANNIHILATION, 2019) played Catherine, a documentary filmmaker Tess wants to work for;

Jaymes Butler (RESIDENT EVIL, 2002) played Andre, a street person living near the strange Airbnb;

Justin Long (DRAG ME TO HELL, 2009) played A.J. Gilbride, an abusive Hollywood actor;

Richard Brake (HALLOWEEN II, 2009) played Frank;

Matthew Patrick Davis played The Mother;

Kate Bosworth (THE RULES OF ATTRACTION, 2002) voiced Melisa, a television executive;

J.R. Esposito (DOOM: ANNIHILATION, 2019) played Jeff, A.J.’s accountant;

Söphie Sorenson (MIDSOMMAR, 2019) voiced Bonnie, a property management employee.

As I noted before, some viewers might be put off by BARBARIAN’s story shift (which comes back to its initial leads)—not only that, some might be put off by brief instances of implied/off-screen rapes and a few over-the-top moments, but given its mostly smart and sometimes clever characters, effective and fresh twists, and previously noted virtues, BARBARIAN is an above-average horror film that ably addresses societal ills (poverty, crime, the police) without speechifying or sacrificing its entertainment value.