Solid, Omnious, Intriguing
Barbarian as the name suggests is a mystery which builds into this refreshingly new style of film. The film is a about a woman who books an Airbnb and something is wrong in the rented stay. The film starts off as a rom com and the slowly becomes engaging as the atmospheric tension becomes evident. And the pre interval block just knocks your socks off and you may get a shocker if you hadn't anticipated it. The films direction style is commendable, 3 individual chapters told separately and linearly finally coming into intersection because of the house. The screenplay is a rollercoaster and neither fast paced nor slow. But the score and the editing makes it engaging.
Georgina Campbell is fantastic, from start till finish she engrosses you with her grounded and realistic performance. The transition of her emotions in critical moments of the film is so perfect. Bill Skarsgard is a real charmer in the first half and definitely makes you like him instantly. His small appearance is commendable too. Justin Long is brilliant as the stay owner. His character itself remains a mystery untill the end which suddenly makes you feel for him in a moment to despise him in another. Very very good job.
Overall, Barbarian for me doesn't justifies its name with a solid back story , but it's transition of genre as a romantic to mystery to horror then back to thriller does make it a compelling and film which will remain in your heads a bit longer. The best part of the film is it leads you to something which you would have never imagined nor expected. I still wish the writing towards the end could have been better as it felt a bit rushed and unsatisfactory for me with the end. A little more backstory could have helped.
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[Disney+] It manages to use expectations, from Bill Skarsgård's choice, but is as unpredictable at the start as it is messy and withdrawn in the third act. It is more interesting when it ironizes with the classic elements of terror than when it tries to join the genre with a social discourse, and although without contributing anything new, the use of the progressive agony of a city like Detroit is intriguing.
Took off really good for the first half of the time, but the last act for me just didn't quite hit the sweet spot, something was amiss. A talent like Skarsgard should've been utilized more. That way, i think, could've potentially addressed some of the dullness. Still a good movie though, interesting visuals with some pretty tight suspense scenes in the dark.
Hits all the boxes of 2020s horror so far, stylistic shots and jarring tone changes that influence the viewer that they’re watching something “more” than a spooky movie - however other movies have checked this box better. First arc genuinely is pretty great and compelling and tense but completely sacrifices scare factor for ironic parody after the 40 minute mark.
Main girl also turns from a very convincing realistic woman to average horror character making stupid decisions and never knowing when to GTFO.
Anyways, guess it’s worth a watch if you have 2 hours to kill
First, it is impossible to double book an Airbnb, the application won't allow it if it was book through Airbnb!
I know, I host an Airbnb. The movie, go watch the original Nightmare on Elm Street!
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Barbarian’:
I would love to be double-booked at a spooky Airbnb with Bill Skarsgård. And I could’ve used more of him in this film.
While I thought the drastic shift in tone was appropriately-jarring, there was much wasted time spent on setting up Justin Long’s character.
There was still a little left to be desired and some wasted potential, but I thought this was a solid film with great acting, a terrific mood-setting score, and it legitimately kept me guessing until the end.
Shout by Andy King (ADDS)BlockedParent2022-11-05T23:00:36Z
All I need to say is this was a superb,top notch horror.One of the best to come out in the last couple of years.