Director: Zach Cregger.
The film starts off with a seemingly straightforward premise of a woman who finds a man double booked in her Airbnb. However, as the film progresses, the story takes a sharp turn and subverts the expectations of the viewers. The premise of the film is the reason why I was avoiding the film until now, it doesn’t sound interesting enough. So, I was quite happy when the film branched to more complicated storylines.
The design of the inbred monster was a standout aspect of the film and clearly draws inspiration from the creature design in the 2007 zombie film "REC". Despite its surprises and thrills, the limited runtime of 102 minutes hindered the development of the characters, leaving Tess (Georgina Campbell) as the central focus without sufficient background information to understand her actions and motivations.
While the film's unique narrative structure and striking monster design helped it perform well at the box office, it falls short in delivering a fully developed and engaging story. I was left with a sense of surprise and thrill, but without a strong emotional connection to the characters and their journeys.
In conclusion, "Barbarian" (2022) directed by Zach Cregger keeps the audience engaged with its surprising plot twists and striking monster design. However, the limited character development detracts from the overall viewing experience.
Verdict: 3 / 5 ★ - Not bad.
