Movie Review: ‘Barbarian Could Be Horror Movie Of The Year

The film repeatedly undoes the audience's experience of violence

Director Zack Krieger's The Barbarian received mixed reviews in theaters and on HBO Max. I spent Halloween watching a movie on the edge of my seat.

Normally I wouldn't include a spoiler, but you won't get the full effect of this movie if you know more than Kreger, so keep that in mind.

The film is about a woman who doubles up in an Airbnb in Detroit and shares it with a stranger. Their clumsy and confusing conversation initially gives them the illusion that the man is hiding a terrible secret.

This premise is sad, exaggerated, and terrible. It's also probably the biggest red herring of all time.

We quickly learned that the Airbnb basement has a hidden door that hides a cave where a hideous 8-foot-tall naked woman lives. The film is at once more tense and creepy than you'd imagine (especially if you're expecting the typical Norman Bates version).

Savage has an interesting plot full of unexpected twists, especially the usual red herring in the main plot. Difficult walking and time-consuming jumps only add to the discomfort.

Along with horror and horror, it is also a moral tale that makes the viewer wonder who the monster of the film is. After you get past all the horrible female monsters and their hands being ripped off and used to kill people, you'll get a strange message.

Let go of your expectations before you fire up the barbarian. This is a film that tries to impress its audience and it succeeds without fail.

Between the great effects, an exciting yet terrifying story, and a great overarching message, The Barbarian is sure to satisfy all your horror movie needs.