GRAPHIC | Tara Espinoza
From the producers of “IT” and “The Grudge” comes 2022’s most horrifying film of the year: “Barbarian.” It is safe to say the film has been well received, as it has grossed $21.9 million in the US and Canada, not to mention the 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
This type of film is best when going in blind so that this review will be spoiler-free. The story follows the main character, Tess Marshall, played by Georgina Richards, as she books an AirBnB in a rundown neighborhood in Detroit. When she arrives, she is shocked to find that the home already has an occupant.
His name is Keith, played by Bill Skarsgård, and he claims to have also booked the home for this particular night. While hardcore fans of “IT” will already be weary of Skarsgård’s presence on the screen, the actor manages to be strange but heart-warming simultaneously.
“The audience is prepared to be afraid of him or to suspect that he’s got some ulterior motive,” Zach Cregger, the film’s director, said.
Unfortunately, this is an American horror film and not a rom-com: Tess soon discovers that there are stranger things about the house than just the stranger in it.
“Barbarian” is filled with wide-scoped shots that constantly force the viewer to peek around the corner into narrow dark hallways. The script and cinematography keep the audience guessing until the credits roll.
This horror film is reminiscent of the ones that have come before it. It has similar tones and scares to that of “The Shining” and “IT.” Both classics in their own right.
I would argue that “Barbarian” is a modern-day classic in the world of horror.
I am not ordinarily fond of horror movies, but I found “Barbarian” excellent. This movie is undoubtedly one of my top-ranking movies coming this year. It is full of dark comedy, entertaining characters, and nightmare fuel for those looking to get into the Halloween spirit.
