Imagine booking an Airbnb in Detroit for an upcoming job interview, only to discover that there has been an accidental double booking and that there is already a man staying there. You, with no other options available, have to stay there. During your stay, you find a secret hidden in the basement. After meeting your temporary roommate, he goes missing down there so you decide to go looking. Then you come face-to-face with unimaginable horror. This is the premise of  “Barbarian.”

“Barbarian” is the first ever solo-directed film by actor and director Zach Cregger (“Miss March”). It is a horrifying concoction of humor and disturbing terrors, and contains social commentary on top of all the chills. 

At first glance, the movie’s look is impressive. The camera work is excellent for the big screen and future immersive home video releases. The aspect ratio and style switch throughout the film at different moments. For example, conversations have a different style than a heart-racing scene. These include Stanley Kubrick-esque (“The Shining”) movements of the camera, claustrophobic and uncomfortable closeups, mainly when it follows a character through a tight space. All in all, the cinematographer, Zach Kuperstien (“The Eyes of My Mother”) deserves praise. 

The performances in the movie are all quite good. While Georgina Campbell (“All My Friends Hate Me”) and Bill Skarsgard (“It”) all do well, Justin Long (“Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story”) stands out the most. He portrays the humor of his character well and also manages to convey his character’s fear well. However, there are some points where the acting can get a little stale and does not always hit the mark. It can come off as a little too silly for what it is meant to be.

The story is unique and compelling, and the overall message is excellently told, no matter how weird and disturbing it gets. The movie shines a light on how women are treated by commenting on sexual assault, #MeToo situations and trafficking. The film slaps viewers in the face with these themes which serve as a well-deserved reality check. It shocks and unsettles viewers just like it should. 

Cregger still manages to add humor to it without messing up the tone. The film can also be enjoyed even when not focusing on the message, as it keeps the audience entertained and does not get too serious for what it is trying to say. For a horror film, it is such a surprise. 

What is worth mentioning is that editing is good, but not the best. Standout moments include when scenes change and cut to a character or object staying in the same place and only the location have changed. The problems with the editing are when the time changes to a flashback or a past event. Some scene changes can be a little funny, intentional or not. When they are supposed to be funny, thes changes work. When they are unintentionally funny, they do not. The flow of the plot sometimes gets a little messy, but this is a combination of both the writing and editing.

Overall, “Barbarian” is a must-see movie for all film fans. All of the above factors, as well as a fun viewing experience, make for the most surprising horror film of 2022.

Image from 20th Century Studios via YouTube