Barbarian 2022 Review

Spoiler-free review.

What a wild ride. Where do I even start??? First of all, if you haven't checked out Barbarian yet I highly recommend going into it completely blind like I did. I had absolutely no idea what I was in for when I sat myself in that cinema chair and wasn't prepared for what was to come. The film poster is the only thing I had saw prior to viewing Barbarian which shows someone stood at what looks to be stairs inside of a basement, and we all know nothing good happens in basements in horror films.

A young woman in town for a job interview arrives at her Airbnb and discovers that the house she has rented is not what it seems.

Director & writer: Zach Cregger Producers: Arnon Milchan, Roy Lee, Raphael Margules, J.D. Lifshitz Cinematography: Zach Kuperstein

Everyone has been talking about Barbarian and how bizarre it is but does it live up to its hype and reputation? The film starts off slow and seems as though it's going to be a predictable straightforward thriller, however it evolves to something much more. Barbarian is packed with unexpected plot twists and misdirects that keep you guessing whilst hanging off the edge of your seat. When you think you have an idea of what's going on you quickly find out you're wrong and this pattern continues throughout the film. It is a fresh and creative take on modern horror made with clear skill and confidence that offers disturbing imagery, satisfying scares and plenty of suspense.

For me personally Barbarian has all of the ingredients that make a genuinely frightening horror film. When I thought the situation was as bad as it could possibly be it continued to get worse. It's one of those films that has you screaming at the characters through the screen telling them what they should and shouldn't do. I was fully immersed when watching, I felt like I was trapped and living in the nightmare with the characters. I had even said to my partner that it felt like I was playing a horror video game which is usually a lot more terrifying and intense than just watching a horror film. It takes you on a rollercoaster journey through emotions, one minute I was sweating and the next I was crying laughing. Quite often humour can kill the suspense and seriousness of a horror film for me but it had the perfect amount and was used effectively. I'm a big fan of things strange and unusual so Barbarian was an absolute treat and is definitely one I could re-watch.

Barbarian is a strong and promising outing for Zach Cregger. The impressive and unique execution of Barbarian has me eager to see what Cregger does moving forward. If you're a fan of crazy and unpredictable horrors that leave you feeling uncomfortable and on edge of your seat then I highly recommend you check out Barbarian. It's truly unexplainable, you can watch the trailer and read lots of reviews but it's one of those ones you have to see for yourself, and the less you know, the better.

Barbarian is now showing in UK cinemas.