A barbarian is someone who is uncivilised or primitive, savage or violent. Zach Cregger’s horror of the same name does a good job of defining that on its own by showing, not telling.

In Barbarian, a young woman named Tess (Georgina Campbell) arrives at her rental home late at night only to find that the house has been accidentally double booked and a strange man, Keith (Bill Skarsgård), is already staying there. Against her better judgment, she decides to spend the evening, but soon discovers that there’s a lot more to fear than just an unexpected house guest. From the producers of It, The Grudge and The Ring, Barbarian demands a place on your Halloween movie watch-list.  

Casting director Nancy Nayor – who worked on films, including The Flintstones, Scream 4 and Casper – deserves all the props. Bill Skarsgård, who’s best known for his performance as Pennywise in It, unnerves the not-so-trusting audience as cautious Tess steps foot in the rental. The chemistry between Campbell (All My Friends Hate Me) and Skarsgård sizzles, making us hunger for a romantic conclusion. Under different circumstances, this set-up would make for a perfect rom-com.

The first act is utterly gripping. Cregger’s direction cultivates the awkwardness of Keith’s timid chivalry and Tess’s self-preservation to heighten the anxiety of the situation, infusing 476 Barbary Street with the same suspense of Psycho’s Bates Motel. The unexpected situation is nerve-racking with supernatural symbolism, close calls and dangerous discoveries. But the strong foundation teeters with more than one tonal shift and bizarre horror elements that border on fetishism.

Justin Long (Jeepers Creepers, Die Hard 4.0) brings the humour. With a tonal shift that is sure to give you whiplash and leave you wondering if the tape has been switched, we are introduced to Long’s character AJ. Facing serious accusations and bankruptcy, the egocentric actor finds himself in the yellow weatherboard house. Here, Cregger’s comedy writing background (The Whitest Kids U'Know) shines through with the amusing contrast between smart, empathetic and brave Tess; and naïve, selfish and just plain ridiculous AJ.

“Guys will walk all over you as long as you let them” – Tess

Cregger shares a nomination for the 2009 EDA Sexist Pig Award with co-writer and director Trevor Moore for their sex comedy (and Cregger’s feature debut) Miss March. With Barbarian’s #MeToo narrative focus, he has a point to prove. Tess’s explanation as to why she chose to sleep in the occupied rental over her car will ring true for women all over. This is a necessary explanation to further distinguish her as a sensible protagonist (after she snaps a photo of Keith’s ID) and highlights the intrinsic nature of male privilege. Later, these gendered themes, particularly violence against women, become bolder. Prejudice, too, is dissected in how it both keeps safe and endangers.

Director of photography Zach Kuperstein received critical acclaim for his artful cinematography in Nicolas Pesce’s 2016 black-and-white horror film, The Eyes of My Mother. In Barbarian, his adventurous talent is by no means wasted. Swift pull-outs build on trepidation more than once, and the switch to a 4:3 aspect ratio and extreme wide-angle lenses atmospherically settles into a state of calm – which doesn’t last long!

Editing by Joe Murphy (Don’t Come Back from the Moon) utilises satisfying match cuts, jarring smash cuts and strobe effects – but with darkness instead of light – to enhance the intensity of each scene.

Since a large chunk of the film is set in the dark basement, the terrifying ventures below the house are lit with flashlights. During a frantic chase scene, the effect of the flashlight bouncing off the claustrophobic walls evokes a churning feeling of dread.

Barbarian is largely unpredictable, which is what you want from a horror film. If you let the premise alone pull you in, you’ll find yourself roped into a gory, brazen, anticipatory horror – one where the true monster can only be described as totally barbaric.

Barbarian is in Australian cinemas from October 20, 2022