Barbarian

Directed by Zach Cregger, Barbarian follows Georgina Campbell’s Tess as she arrives at an Airbnb only to discover that somebody else (Bill Skarsgård’s Keith) is already staying there. Filmmaker Cregger, working from his own screenplay, delivers a somewhat erratic yet mostly rewarding endeavor that fares best in its tense and periodically riveting opening stretch, as the writer/director kicks the proceedings off with an engrossing first act that seems to be laying the groundwork for a very specific type of thriller – with the promising vibe certainly enhanced by the strong performances and smattering of suspenseful interludes. And although the picture’s overall impact is dampened by Tess’ ongoing penchant for behaving like a brainless horror-movie victim (ie get out of that dang house already!), Barbarian progresses into a wildly unpredictable (and thoroughly entertaining) midsection that’s enhanced by several engrossing encounters and a raft of appealingly over-the-top plot developments – with Cregger’s stylish visuals certainly proving effective at perpetuating the compulsively watchable atmosphere. The comparatively generic climactic stretch (ie it’s a lot of running and hiding) is consequently a lot easier to swallow than one might’ve anticipated, and the movie is, in the final analysis, a solid horror endeavor that certainly bodes well for Cregger’s future efforts within the genre.

*** out of ****