• Weird

‘Barbarian’

Barbarian is quite the whirlwind. The 2022 horror film from Zach Cregger starts off slow as we’re introduced to Tess, played by Georgina Campbell, who finally arrives at her rental only to learn she’s been double-booked. But the true horror begins when she descends into the basement and discovers the past owner’s dark secret is still hiding just below them. Barbarian hides several tricks up its sleeve, making for an entertaining and thrilling ride as the characters discover the horror dwelling in the basement. The movie is perfect in all of its simplicity thanks to its small, devoted cast, and its 102-minute runtime. It’s also aptly frustrating in how so much could go wrong for a protagonist like Tess who tries to do everything right. Campbell is backed by Bill Skarsgård, who is cast as the perfect red herring, while Justin Long offers some unexpected comedic relief as a self-absorbed actor.