Barbarian

 

Barbarian
Starring Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgard, Matthew Patrick Davis, Richard Brake
Directed by Zach Cregger

There's been a problem with trailers lately in that they often give away the entire plot of the movie, leaving absolutely no room for shocks, surprises, or genuinely gross out moments - and then there's "Barbarian." When I saw the trailer, I thought it was just going to be another humdrum kidnap story of a young girl who gets lured into a false sense of security from an attractive if not a bit off kilter stranger and then kept in the basement to be used for his nefarious purposes, so it was one I was putting on the backburner to see. Then my friends would see it and tell me it's absolutely bonkers, and totally wild, intense, and crazy - and my curiosity was piqued, so I finally got a ticket and sat my seat in the theater - and thankfully my friends were right. Not only was there so much more to the story than the trailer provided, but it was indeed a wild, intense, crazy thrill ride through some of the most insane storytelling I've seen on the big screen in awhile, and even though it all didn't land perfectly, the unique tale and the way it was told sold me on it entirely.

In Detroit for a job interview, Tess Marshall (Georgina Campbell) booked an airbnb and arrived at the home, only to discover that Keith Toshko (Bill Skarsgard) had double-booked the house through another app. Tess wants to leave, but is convinced by Keith to stay due to it being late at night, pouring rain, and in a not-too-safe town. Tess is wary of Keith and is on her guard, because she knows that she's a single woman in a house with a man she's never met before, and Keith comes off as a little bit strange to her. Despite this the two connect and she stays in the locked bedroom, but the next day discovers her door was opened, and ventures down to the basement where she finds a hidden room and a dark basement. What she discovers down there will forever change her life - if she can make it out of the airbnb alive.

"Barbarian" is a rare unique horror film that amps up the social commentary and infuses it into its story, and twists the knife on what it means to be a character in a horror movie. Tess is the most street smart, savvy girl in recent horror memory who more than holds her own in any situation, taking the lead when needed, and knows when to observe rather than strike. She knows what its like being a single black woman in the world today, and takes nothing for granted - even as Keith offers her tea, she doesn't take it because she never saw him pour it, and is hesitant to accept anything he has to offer. As it all hits the fan, her courage and tenacity is heightened as she struggles to survive against insurmountable odds. Georgina Campbell is scream queen for a new generation, and she totally owns the role.

Likewise, Bill Skarsgard plays Keith with this earnest aloofness that could've been endearing if someone had met him in a club with a bunch of people, but one-on-one he comes off as a bit creepy, either purposefully or unintentionally. His casting is perfect for this film as we all know him as Pennywise in the acclaimed "It" and "It: Chapter Two," so we are already on edge when he appears in screen. Yet all might not be as it seems, and he could just be another hapless person caught in a terrifying labyrinth of murder and mayhem - or he could be the cause of it. Obviously I won't disclose spoilers here, but suffice it to say there's much more than meets the eye for Keith, Tess, and those fortunate enough to watch it.

Not only is the film a unique piece of horror, but it also sheds light on the issues plaguing the besieged city of Detroit and the deterioration of a once-thriving city. Shots of dilapidated houses and an uncaring if not totally invisible police force reveals harsh truths told even through a horror movie - sometimes the police won't be there to help you. There's also more realistic issues concerning the safety of women, misogyny, motherhood, and understanding what makes a person tick that goes far beyond the truly terrifying moments that come hard and fast. While other films use jump scares to compensate for a lack of story, "Barbarian" gives a strong story and uses jump scares to add to what's being told.

To reveal anything more would be giving away some truly bonkers twists and turns, and "Barbarian" is one of those films that needs to be seen with the least amount of information possible - so go see it!

The Score: A+