There were enough horror hype movies this year with “Smile” and “Terrifier 2”. But the real genre highlight, if FILMSTARTS editor Pascal has his way, was saved for the end: “Barbarian”. Available now on Disney+.
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As a horror lover, you really couldn’t complain this year. There were really good sequels (“Scream 5”), insider tips (“Hunter Hunter”), controversies (“Halloween Ends”) and finally big hypes (“Terrifier 2”, “Smile”). The last two genre representatives in particular received a lot of attention, not least due to the social media buzz. For my part, however, I have to admit that neither “Terrifier 2” nor “Smile” should be considered horror highlights of the year.
Whereas the second appearance of Art the Clown in “Terrifier 2” was for me just an overlong declaration of bankruptcy, which apart from disproportionate brutality above all made it clear that director Damien Leone has neither a sense of rhythm nor a sense of atmosphere, “Smile” was for my taste, despite its ambitions, a little too interested in clumsy jump scares. Much more successful is “Barbarian”, which is available from today on Disney+ and gives all horror fans a really freaky end to the year. The FILMSTARTS review gives it 4 out of 5 stars.
THIS IS WHAT “BARBARIAN” IS ABOUT
Tess (Georgina Campbell) travels to Detroit for a job interview. Since she wants to arrive well rested for her appointment, she rents accommodation locally. Once there, she discovers that the house she has rented is already booked by a man named Keith (Bill Skarsgard). Keith offers her to stay there anyway and share the house with her. Although Tess decides to accept his offer, she begins to suspect that all is not as it seems in this house.
But the next day Keith has disappeared and Tess goes to the job interview. When, on her way home, she is warned by a mysterious man not to go near the rented house, the mood gradually changes. Frightened, the young woman gradually discovers what is really going on here…
NOBODY IS SAFE HERE
While “Barbarian” caused quite a stir in the United States and director Zach Cregger is already considered one of the most interesting filmmakers of the next few years, the horror film may now – hopefully – also cause a sensation in Germany. It would certainly be deserved, because the way Cregger plays with the audience’s expectations is first-class. Above all, because he completely accepts that individual scenarios that have already been built up coherently in themselves will be brought crashing down again and again.
It’s therefore better not to find out too much about “Barbarian” in advance, but this much can be said at this point: “Terrifier 2” and “Smile” definitely can’t compete with this whacky ride. This is mainly because Zach Cregger doesn’t just have one hobbyhorse, which he has to put in the centre again and again, but skilfully proves his versatility. For the most part, however, “Barbarian” only works through the permanent feeling of mistrust and unease.
Is Keith up to something?
At some point, when Zach Cregger has repeatedly lured the audience onto a wrong track without having to emphasise again and again how clever he is at turning his audience into puppets, the really big bombs explode every 10 minutes. It starts with a hard cut that brings the terrific Justin Long onto the scene and ends, well, with a lot of madness. The kind of insanity that ultimately doesn’t care at all whether anything here seems halfway sensible. Instead, it’s about the feeling of letting a situation get out of control.
Barbarian” is atmospheric, brutal and incredibly entertaining in equal measure. Towards the end, there is even a slight touch of tragedy. But the abysmal fun is in the foreground – and Zach Cregger has definitely managed to keep me entertained for more than 100 minutes. By the way, “Barbarian” also shines through the performance of Georgina Campbell, who throws herself self-sacrificially into her role and, in contrast to Justin Long (who is deliberately drawn in an ambivalent to irritating way), can be sure that the sympathies are so much on her side.
