Moving into a new place has a certain inherent fear factor, especially if previous residents have left behind “history” as well as memories. The Amityville Horror, The Conjuring, and Insidious, as well as Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, are based on this idea. Horror movie directors now have the chance to update a tired cliche thanks to Airbnb. There are numerous examples of actual Airbnb horrors online, including spy cameras, hidden rooms, and strange hosts. In the 20th Century Studios film Barbarian, writer and director Zach Cregger mines that anxiety and then adds his own personal nightmare fuel to it.
In Barbarian, Tess (Georgina Campbell), a young lady in town for a job interview, arrives to her Airbnb property only to learn that Keith (Bill Skarsgrd), another guest, is already living there because the place has been double-booked. Tess is apprehensive and angry when Keith advises, “Why don’t you just crash here,” but she agrees to stay the night. There is no hope of getting any sleep at all. Tess finds her bedroom door open when she awakens. She finds a mysterious basement residence where fellow visitor Keith is creepily crawling toward her while yelling, “Help me!”
How did Keith, the guy who opened the door to Tess, end up in the basement? Is he a victim used to lure other guests in? Or is he going to end up becoming the host? Although the trailer keeps things vague, it makes the following promise: Barbarian appears to be our greatest nightmare when using Airbnb.
What you need to know about the spooky new movie Barbarian is provided below.
When Is Barbarian’s Release Date?
The theatrical release of Barbarian was initially planned for August 31, 2022, but 20th Century Studios and New Regency ultimately decided to put it back a few weeks to September 9. Although no justification for the change was given, early September is a popular time for horror film debuts. Insidious Chapter 2, The Nun, The Visit, and the IT movies were all released in early September to great success.
Watch the Barbarian Trailer
On June 23, 2022, 20th Century Studios unveiled the official trailer for Barbarian.
The complete trailer follows Tess (Campbell), who is arriving at her Airbnb rental home while carrying her luggage and rucksack through a downpour. To her dismay, the host forgets to give her the keys, and when she rings the doorbell, another visitor, Keith (Skarsgrd), answers and claims to have reserved the space a month prior. What should Tess do? she says in frustration, and a normal-looking Keith responds, “Why don’t you come inside? And we’ll refer to them as stupid.
Tess agrees to remain the night after some urging from Keith, reasoning that they are both the victims of double booking and will settle things in the morning: “I’m not sure whether you took a good look at this area, but I don’t believe you ought to be out there by yourself,” I said.
When loud, running footsteps and the creaking of her door woke Tess up, she went downstairs and discovered a mysterious rope sticking out of a wall. She pulls the rope, which unlocks a door that leads to a cave room with a cot and a camera as well as a dim hallway where she can see fellow inhabitant Keith crawling in her direction. And as more victims are exposed, including one portrayed by Justin Long, it becomes clear that Keith is not the only obvious victim.
The voice of the TV narrator, who seems to be suggesting some form of behavioral modification: “This process could seem overwhelming. But with with practice, it can quickly turn into a delightful activity. This is entirely normal.
“Some stay for a night,” says the frightening warning. Others remain for a week. Some people never go. Words you wouldn’t expect to see in an Airbnb listing.
In addition to the terrifying images, the trailer boasts the credentials of its producer, who was also involved in the creation of the horror classics It, The Grudge, and The Ring.
Who’s In The Cast of Barbarian?
The main character, Tess, is played by English actress Georgina Campbell. The Apple TV+ series Suspicion, the horror comedy All My Friends Hate Me, Guy Ritchie’s fantasy epic King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, and the Superman prequel series Krypton are just a few of the projects in which Campbell has previously starred. For the role of Murdered By My Boyfriend at 22, she took home the 2015 BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress.
For his roles as Pennywise the Dancing Clown in IT and IT Chapter Two, the Swedish actor Bill Skarsgrd is most known. Skarsgrd has established a solid career for himself outside of the IT movies; he has been in a number of movies and TV episodes, including Hemlock Grove, Allegiant, Atomic Blonde, Assassination Nation, Villains, Castle Rock, Nine Days, and The Devil All The Time. Additionally, he played Zeitgeist and Kro, respectively, in the superhero films Deadpool 2 and Eternals. By playing Keith in Barbarian, he makes a comeback to the horror genre.
In addition to starring in the long-delayed version of The Crow, Skarsgrd will co-star with Keanu Reeves in the much awaited sequel John Wick: Chapter 4. He will also play the lead role in the dystopian action film Boy Kills World.
The other well-known actor in the Barbarian cast is Justin Long. Long has acted in innumerable movies of all kinds, including the blockbuster sports comedy Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story and the horror classic Drag Me To Hell by Sam Raimi.
What is Barbarian About?
A young woman flying to Detroit for a job interview rents a house, according to the official plot summary provided by 20th Century Studios. But when she gets there in the middle of the night, she finds that a strange man is already residing there and that the house is double rented. Against her better judgment, she makes the decision to stay the night, but she quickly realizes that there is much more to be concerned about than just an unexpected house guest.
