Barbarian (#101)

Alright, everyone, welcome to a brand-new episode of *The Rotten Horror Picture Show*! But before we get into it, I just gotta ask—what’s the deal with this movie *Barbarian*? I mean, you hear that title, and your mind immediately goes to one of three things: historical barbarians with giant axes, Conan the Barbarian swinging his sword around, or at the very least, the WWF wrestler, The Barbarian, smashing skulls in the ring. So imagine my disappointment when Clay and Amanda tell me we’re covering the 2022 horror movie *Barbarian*, and… not a single one of those things is in the movie! Not one!What kind of bait-and-switch is this? I was all hyped up for some gnarly, sword-wielding chaos. But no, instead, we’ve got a suspenseful, tense horror movie that’s more about a creepy house and sinister secrets than pillaging warriors or muscle-bound wrestlers. Now, don’t get me wrong—Clay and Amanda are going to dive into what makes *Barbarian* such an unsettling, effective horror movie. They’ll break down its twists and turns, the tension that builds throughout the film, and the way it subverts your expectations. (And trust me, my expectations were *definitely* subverted.)The movie stars Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, and Justin Long, and let me tell you, it gets *wild*. The story starts off simple—someone books an Airbnb—but quickly spirals into something much darker and more disturbing. And while there may not be any actual barbarians rampaging through the plot, Clay and Amanda are here to help you navigate this twisty horror flick and figure out what makes it so terrifying.So, tune in for the discussion, but be prepared—this *Barbarian* is way more psychological horror than axe-swinging action. And if you were hoping for a Conan cameo like I was… well, you might want to adjust your expectations. Enjoy the show!