Good performances from Georgina Campbell and Bill Skarsgård but 'Barbarian' descends into silly farce after promising start
Film Review: Barbarian (18) – seen at The Light Cinema, Wisbech
Starring: Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, Justin Long, Matthew Patrick Davis, Richard Brake
Running time: 1hr 42m Director: Zach Cregger
Modern horror is not really my thing. I have nostalgic fondness for the old Hammer House movies and I love a Stephen King novel, but in general, it’s a genre I steer clear of.
But I liked the look of this one. The trailers made it look more thriller than horror, so I decided to give it a go.
And, for the first half, thriller it was. Tess (Georgina Campbell) books herself into a Detroit Airbnb for a forthcoming job interview.
She arrives at the address on a wet, dark night, only to discover it has been double booked and a young man called Keith (Bill Skarsgård) is already there.
Awkward exchanges follow before the good looking young pair decide to share for the night, with Keith bedding down on the sofa.
Tess is obviously nervous about the arrangement... but she soon realises it is not her new housemate she has to fear. Eventually, the two hit it off, but when they are drawn down to the attic together, the horror really begins.
Those first 45 minutes are superb. The nervy exchanges, which turn into almost flirty bahviour, between Tess and Keith, are acted out superbly by Campbell and Skarsgård.
Tess’ horror when in the claustrophobic, dark attic is so genuine it’s hard to watch, just waiting for the inevitable terrifying jump scare.
But that’s where it all goes wrong for me... and gets a bit silly.
It’s a bolt out of the blue when we suddenly leave the horror of the cellar and meet actor AJ (Justin Long) cruising down the highway in the sunshine.
And Long then becomes the main player in the movie for quite a while.
To say what happens next would be to spoil it for any of you planning to catch this film, but for me, a really promising start descends into a bit of a gory farce.
But, like I said, I’m not a horror fan.
By Jeremy Ransome
Rating: 6/10
This week's film listing,from today (Friday)
Showing at The Light Cinema, Cromwell Road, from Friday...
Ania (15)
Sat: 17:00
Barbie: Mermaid Power (U)
Sat, Sun: 10:30 (autism-friendly Sun)
Black Adam (12A)
Fri: 13:45, 16:45, 19:45. Sat, Sun: 10:45, 13:45, 16:45, 19:45. Mon, Tues: 14:15, 17:00, 19:45. Wed: 12:10, 15:00, 18:00, 20:45. Thurs: 15:10, 17:50, 20:30
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (12A)
Fri: 12:30, 13:30, 13:45 (baby-friendly),15:15, 16:00, 17:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30. Sat, Sun: 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 15:00 (subtitled Sat), 16:00, 17:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30. Mon: 13:00, 13:45, 14:45, 15:45, 16:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00. Tues: 12:15 (silver screening), 13:00, 14:00, 15:40, 16:30, 17:30, 19:00, 20:00. Wed: 11:45, 12:15, 13:00, 15:10, 15:50, 16:30, 18:45, 19:30, 20:10. Thurs: 15:00, 15:45, 16:30, 18:30 (subtitled), 19:15, 20:00
Calamity Jane (U)
Mon: 11:30
DC League of Super-Pets (PG)
Sat, Sun: 10:20
Liam Gallagher - Knebworth 22 (15)
Thurs: 20:00
Living (12A)
Fri: 12:45. Sat: 12:15, 15:20. Sun, Thurs: 15:15. Mon: 15:10. Tues: 13:15 (subtitled), 18:00. Wed: 12:45 (silver screening), 15:15
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (PG)
Fri: 16:30. Sat: 11:00, 14:40. Sun: 11:00, 13:40, 16:20. Mon: 17:40. Tues: 15:40
Nutcracker! (TBC)
Tues: 18:45
Minions: The Rise of Gru (U)
Sat: 10:10. Sun: 11:15
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (PG)
Fri: 14:00. Mon: 13:15
Prey For The Devil (15)
Fri, Sat: 17:50. Sun: 17:40. Mon, Wed: 20:30. Tues: 20:50. Thurs: 20:40
Royal Ballet 2022/23 Season: A Diamond Celebration (TBC)
Wed: 19:15
Smile (18)
Mon: 20:15. Tues: 20:45. Wed: 17:45. Thurs: 18:00
The Banshees of Inisherin (15)
Fri: 12:45, 15:20. Sat, Sun: 12:45. Mon: 18:00. Tues: 13:30, 20:20. Wed: 13:45, 16:30. Thurs: 15:30, 17:30
Watcher (15)
Mon: 17:10. Tues: 16:20
Toddler Time: Zog and the Flying Doctors (U)
Sun: 10:00. Wed: 11:30
Showing at The Luxe Cinema, Alexandra Road, from Friday...
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (12A)
Fri 15:15 & 19:00. Sat 11:15, 15:15 & 19:15. Sun 11:45, 15:45 (autism friendly),19:30. Mon 16:15, 19:45 (subtitled). Tues 16:15 & 20:00. Wed 15:45. Thurs 12:15 & 15:45.
Royal Ballet: A Diamond Celebration (LIVE)
Wed 19:15
NT Live: Jack Absolute Flies Again (15)
Thurs 19:15
