Barbarian

I can't deny the film's style, ideas and the great feeling of the unknown I had while watching it. Unfortunately, I have to criticize it for being terribly, terribly long, and the longer it gets, the more bloated and annoying it seems to me. And considering the way it's written, I think it would work much better as a series. At least for me. (10/28/2022)

I find it a bit sad and perhaps unfair that audiences in recent years have given more favorable to horror films that subvert, satirise and mock genre tropes, rather than to some of the attempted serious and atmospheric horror films of the traditional cut, which at best end up with a 58% rating, but at the same time it cannot be denied that Barbarian works well in its subversion and surprise. (12/07/2022)

Ignorance truly is bliss. Rarely today do I go to the movies blind, without the slightest knowledge of the premise or the cast. With Barbarian this was a double advantage because the question marks started piling up right from the first few minutes. It's a shame that the opening act is by far the best. Every little twist brings about a first-class thrill, and the last two minutes had me glued so tightly that I almost couldn't bear it. Unfortunately, the second and third acts, when compared directly, are a diluted, subversively told fairy tale that becomes weaker the clearer the who, what, and how become. When even the appealingly rational rules are violated in the finale, and the showdown begins so abruptly that I had to make sure I didn't accidentally skip fifteen minutes of runtime, it seemed almost a pity if you consider the massive yet rather quickly blown potential. (11/02/2022)

The concise first third of Barbarians with the wonderful Bill is great; the second has an unexpected comedic edge (I roared with laughter at the twist from jump-scare to reality farce), and the third is a mishmash, but... the original mix of inverse home invasion, lactation instruction, collecting of VHS snuff flicks, drama about cruel motherhood and black comedy about the MeToo movement simply kept me watching, even though some of the dramaturgical choices are very dubious and the film barely holds together in places. As another entry in the canon of Detroit high-concept horror movies (the magnificent and in some ways related Don’t Breathe and the more allegorical It Follows are worth mentioning), it is indeed a more than respectable work. A place where society has collapsed invites the rise of barbarism. (10/28/2022)

A properly intense wild piece that reminds me of my favourite Ghostland. I'm glad to see that every year some talented and unknown horror filmmaker comes along to satisfy our needs for years to come. Zach Cregger has made a very good horror film that can't leave anyone downright cold. Barbarian has perfect craftsmanship (the sound and cinematography are of Wan's caliber). Georgina Campbell and Bill Skarsgård are both perfect (Justin Long a little less so, but it’s alright). The opening is a little slower, but once the action moves to the basement, it starts a hell of an uncomfortable, chilling and intense horror with a very uncomfortable and claustrophobic setting, a properly creepy villain – the best one so far in five years. The film also emphatically emphasizes the rational behavior of the characters, which is a very nice touch. It also manages to pleasantly and unpleasantly surprise the viewer on several occasions, the mystery and thick atmosphere works as well as the fear of the unknown. There were a few heart-attack-inducing jump-scares and of course there was gore – basically, everything we want to see in this genre. I'm giving a standing ovation, tearing my hair out and roaring HELL YEA!. Anyone who is going to be mad at this movie, I'm going to be mad at them. 9/10. (10/28/2022)