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Georgina Campbell as Tess in “Barbarian.” (Courtesy of 20th Century)

Movie Review: ‘Barbarian’


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Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Movie & Television Reviews

NEW YORK – Airbnb beware: The horror tale “Barbarian” (20th Century) will do nothing to promote the rental of homes away from home.

Bill Skarsgård as Keith in ”Barbarian.” (Courtesy of 20th Century)

In fact, the plot of this creepy but not very credible film kicks off as two strangers – aspiring filmmaker Tess (Georgina Campbell) and kindly but awkward Keith (Bill Skarsgård), about whom we initially know very little – find that they’ve been double-booked to stay at the same house in a rundown neighborhood of Detroit. They make do, with Keith yielding the one bedroom to Tess and taking to the couch for the night.

As Tess gets to know Keith – and satisfies herself that he’s not a psycho – the pair befriend each other and there’s even a hint of potential romance in their interaction. But they’re quickly distracted from such thoughts by the discovery that their shared temporary dwelling contains terrifying secrets.

The plot, which eventually involves the home’s absentee owner, AJ (Justin Long), a callous Hollywood actor facing a ruinous sexual harassment lawsuit, depends on much unrealistic behavior on the part of the principals. Still, grownups willing to treat writer-director Zach Cregger’s skin-crawler as a tongue-in-cheek kicking over of the traces may enjoy themselves, though advance warning is due on a couple of levels.

First, the theme underlying the proceedings is not so much feminist as downright anti-masculine. By word and deed, the movie depicts most men as cowardly predators.

Additionally, while far more restrained than the average slasher flick, “Barbarian” does include two fleeting scenes of thoroughly excessive blood-soaked mayhem. These may take up only a small portion of the overall running time, yet the squeamish of any age will want to avoid them.

Look for: A wild variation on the hoary haunted house trope.

Look out for: Brief but offensively gory violence, upper female and shadowy full nudity in a nonsexual context, about a half-dozen uses of profanity, several milder oaths, pervasive rough and some crude language.

The Catholic Moviegoer’s guidance is L – suitable for a limited mature audience. The Motion Picture Association rating is R – restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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