Movie Review: ‘Barbarian’ – Catholic Review
NEW YORK – Airbnb beware: The 20th-century horror tale “Barbarian” will do nothing to promote home-away-from-home rentals.
In fact, the plot of this scary but not very believable film begins when two strangers – aspiring filmmaker Tess (Georgina Campbell) and kind but clumsy Keith (Bill Skarsgård), about whom we know very little at first – discover that they were double-booked to stay in the same house in a run-down Detroit neighborhood. They manage, Keith giving up the bedroom to Tess and taking the couch for the night.
As Tess gets to know Keith – and is satisfied that he’s not a psychopath – the pair become friends and there’s even a hint of potential romance in their interaction. But they are quickly distracted from these thoughts by the discovery that their shared temporary accommodation contains terrifying secrets.
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The plot, which ultimately involves the home’s absentee owner AJ (Justin Long), an uncaring Hollywood actor facing a ruinous lawsuit for sexual harassment, hinges on highly unrealistic behavior from the directors. Still, adults willing to treat writer-director Zach Cregger’s skin-crawler as a tongue-in-cheek kick in the footsteps can have fun, though advance warning is due on many levels.
First, the theme underlying the debates is not so much feminist as downright anti-masculine. In word and deed, the film portrays most men as predatory cowards.
Plus, while far more understated than the average slasher flick, “Barbarian” includes two fleeting scenes of utterly blood-soaked mayhem. These may only take up a small portion of the overall running time, but finicky eaters of any age will want to avoid them.
Look for: A wild twist on the haunted house trope.
Attention : Brief but offensively bloody violence, superior and dark female nudity in a non-sexual context, about half a dozen uses of profanity, several softer oaths, pervasive rudeness, and foul language.
The Catholic film buff’s advice is L – suitable for a limited adult audience. The Motion Picture Association rating is R – restricted. Children under 17 must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian.
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