AT THE MOVIES

by Isy Jordan

Barbarian
Director: Zach Cregger
Starring: Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, Justin Long, and more.


A woman staying at an Airbnb discovers that the house she has rented is not what it seems.

If you saw the same trailer I did, you would go into this film with the same assessment I did. Bill Skarsgård is the lunatic, there to target an innocent woman just trying to check into her Airbnb, right? He's got an underground dungeon like Buffalo Bill and it will be intense and thrilling. And predictable.

No.

It starts out that way. And then it takes a sharp turn to the dark, bizarre recesses of the director's mind and what a trip it is. I can't really say much here because I don't want to ruin the surprise. But you will be surprised and nothing is what it seems.

Strong performances for the lead actors enhanced a wild ride of a story that's really not for the faint of heart. It's rated R for very good reasons. There's quite a bit of violence and gore, language, and nudity. The most disturbing things don't occur on the screen and once you know them, this film goes from horror movie to nightmare in about 60 seconds.

Diehard horror fans will love this. Those who dabble in the genre? Don't say I didn't warn you.

Isy