Barbarian (2022 film)

“Barbarian” so fiercely relies on one going in blind, rendering comparisons to other horror films or even discussing themes risks ruining aspects of it (though, to speak in the broadest terms without possibly giving anything away: imagine if “The Blackcoat’s Daughter” had a sense of humor). While the question of “what’s going on in this film” eventually lands on well-trod road, the gleeful sense of play with its shots and depictions of violence renders “Barbarian” more hysterical than scary, and considering the background of writer-director Cregger, that’s probably not unintentional. It’s messy, it’s loose, it’s imperfect, and it’s a hoot.

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