Barbarian

This movie is textbook, to a T, the very definition of a cult film. This is the most "culty" film I've seen since rocky horror.

I don't really want to say much (or compare this to other films) because anything written will give expectations and this film is absolutely best if you go in blind and with zero expectations. I would really, really recommend avoiding all reviews and any discussion of this film prior to seeing it. If you're a horror fan this movie should be at the top of your list.

I will say that the person who made the trailer deserves a major award because the trailer gives away *nothing* at all, which is exactly how a trailer should be and trailers like this are so rare.

7/10.

A lot of great things can and should be said about Barbarian. It's a masterfully directed film; Creggor always shows us just enough in each shot that we're left wondering about what's lurking in the empty space on the frame.

The first two-thirds of the film are tense when it's quiet and shocking when it's loud. It kept me on my toes for nearly the entire time, which is refreshing for my desensitised eyes.

Efficient work is made of the character introductions. Cregor's script doesn't waste time at the beginning of each character's story. We get to know exactly what we need to know about each of them as a person before they get thrust into the metaphorical depths of hell. It makes the eventual carnage all the more nerve-shredding because no character is disposable.

So, yes, the film is good. But it's not all good.

The film's narrative and pacing are not nearly as compelling and tight, respectively, as they should be due to the fact that it tells the stories of three separate sets of characters (one after the other) before getting to the finale.

Also, the film's last act really took a dive into campy and I found it to be a betrayal of the rest of the story's bleak tone.

The final set piece is so out-of-left-field and ridiculous that it became unintentionally hilarious for me.

This may seem like a minor complaint, but when the ending of the movie leaves a bad taste in my mouth, it kind of sours the whole experience.

I wanted this to be better than it was. But it's still so tense throughout its majority and the many twists are so satisfying that I do heartily recommend this subversive horror flick.

No, they are not mutually exclusive.

First of all, props to the creators of this intensely riveting film for keeping us GLUED to the edge of our seats, in suspense, during the slow burn of a beginning, DESPITE thinking we knew what was going to happen.

Read that again.

In simple terms, even if this film had gone exactly the way we thought it would, the build-up to what we expected to happen, was masterfully handled.

Beyond that, the film declines in intensity during the second half, and expects more from the viewer in order to keep its believability factor.

I meant to add so much more, but I keep giving away too much and have to go back and delete it. I DETEST spoilers (unless I specifically ask for them) and those who think they actually gain something by revealing anything more than what is necessary. As such and as it is almost impossible to fully discuss the film without some reveals (and I possess tact enough not to spoil it for others), I will simply add that although there ARE a couple of "dumb" horror-film trope moments as in 'why did he/she do that' or 'why didn't he/she do that', they are in no way lastingly detrimental to the film. It is quite good, in that it quickly reels you back in and you all but forget about them - at least for the duration.

... It is also quite bad in the sense that it is off-the-wall bonkers.

It does gift viewers with a couple of funny/humorous moments, but they neither make or break the film.

In short, You will really like it, or you will hate it. Either way, see it before someone with less courtesy spoils it for you.

(The casting of Alexander Skarsgard was genius).

6.5-7/10.

I went in totally blind, with no expectations whatsoever as I only heard of this movie the day I decided to watch it. I think that's the best way to enjoy it.

This is campy horror film that has all the classic tropes from horror movies of a home invasion, with some fun twists and turns in it. This is definitely more of campy film though. Not quite as a campy as movies like Child's Play or Leprechan, but definitely not a true horror movie that will give you nightmares like the Ring or the Excorcist.

Bill Skarsgård really does a great job setting things up, and Georgina Campbell serves well as the classic "damsel in the distress." Justin Long is truly hilarious. This pokes fun at a lot of hororr movie tropes while still being scary enough to have audiences jumping out of their seats. It's a movie that's best seen with a lot of friends in a packed theater. But I don't think it will be a horror classic.

For most I think this is one of those either you love it or you hate it movies. After viewing a couple of days ago I still am having issues deciding on which side of that divide I fall. For me, the opening act was exceptional. Skarsgård was fantastic in his role and Campbell also played her part excellently ( for the entire film really), but the two together had a perfect horror chemistry for me. I really was craving more screen time with both of them.

The movie then tries to combine a couple different backstories and attach them all together. I would say this was done with moderate success. The exposure of the character flaws was achieved through these backstories that helped the movie display the themes it set out to, however I felt a lot of time was wasted on irrelevant scenes. I suppose this was an attempt to keep you on your toes, but after knowing how the story ends I would have liked other areas of the story to be explored in a little more detail. Specifically, focusing a little bit more on "the mothers" history could have been quite powerful and informing. Instead, the audience is tasked with having to sort of use its imagination to envision exactly how "the mother" became what she is.

Overall, it was fine, loved some parts and hated others. However, I definitely don't see how this would ever be elevated to the level of a "classic".