Review: Barbarian - Are Airbnbs the new Bates’ Motel?

Directed by Zach Cregger, Barbarian stars Georgina Campbell in her first major film role, Bill Skarsgård (IT), Justin Long (Drag Me To Hell), and Richard Brake (Batman Begins). The movie tells the story of Tess (Campbell), who’s visiting Detroit for a job interview and staying overnight at an Airbnb. On arrival, she finds the accommodation accidentally double-booked and a stranger, Keith (Skarsgård), already in residence. Deciding to stay the night anyway, the house’s many secrets slowly begin to reveal themselves. But that’s enough about the plot, as Barbarian is a movie best experienced cold.

This is Cregger’s debut in the horror genre. In fact, it’s his first major film, but you would never tell. He commands the camera excellently, his skilful direction guaranteed to terrify the viewer. I felt this most intensely during the film’s first act, culminating in an incredibly tense underground sequence. After that, the horror is somewhat toned down, though always present on some level.

The entire cast give solid performances. Despite Barbarian being Campbell’s breakthrough role, she is fantastic and assured throughout, and I’m interested to see where her career takes her next. Justin Long and Bill Skarsgård were the other standouts. Casting Skarsgård as the other Airbnb guest was a particularly inspired decision. Previously, his most iconic role was Pennywise, the creepy, murderous clown in 2017’s It. Consequently, horror fans are predisposed to distrust him.

The Airbnb, which serves as the movie’s main setting, is located in a rundown Detroit neighbourhood. Having arrived after dark, Tess only discovers this in the morning and is horrified. Then, during her job interview, one character is appalled to discover she’s staying there. Indeed, the neighbourhood almost becomes a character of its own, with its derelict houses exuding an unsettling vibe even in daylight.

My favourite part of Barbarian was its unpredictability. The film subverts your expectations at every turn – hence the need to avoid spoilers at all costs. Several abrupt tonal shifts throughout the movie feel intentionally jarring, though may be confusing. However, by the film’s end, you’ll have enough information to piece everything together, making for a rewarding viewing experience.

Overall, Barbarian is a movie that I’d recommend to all horror fans. It contains numerous wonderfully tense sequences, truly unpredictable twists, and lots of terrifying imagery. I have only one real issue with the film: the frankly brainless decisions made by certain characters. However, in fairness, this problem plagues many similar movies, and its effect is minimal here. I hope Cregger returns to horror soon, as he demonstrates a thorough understanding of the genre. 4/5