BARBARIAN (2022) is a horror thriller that does an excellent
job of keeping the darker edge of its central premise hidden until the second
act. In fact, it might be possible – if you could avoid the trailer or the ongoing
online discussions – to see the film and wonder if it was going to be a meet-cute
romantic drama. The initial lead characters are likeable and their situation compelling
in ways that draw you into the scenario. It helps that both are being played by
solid actors capable of walking the fine line between wary and curious. The
point at which the film pulls its first narrative split is masterfully handled
as the story switches to a third character we learn to dislike and slowly to
distrust. But then the film adds another wrinkle that shows us the past awfulness
that brings this entire tale to horror territory. BARBARIAN is a well made and
smart film that knows its tricks are old but makes up for that by inventing new
ways to hide their inevitable culmination. You have probably seen a version of
this story before but not told in this way. That makes me appreciate the film
that much more.
UNINVITED (1987) – 5 (not bad but the budget hampers things)
THE MUNSTERS (2022) – 7
LADY MORGAN’S VENGEANCE (1965) – 6 (interesting gothic
gaslighting tale)
HOUSE (1985) – 5 (rewatch)
TRICK ‘R’ TREAT (2008) – 9 (rewatch on the big screen)
STRIPPED TO KILL (1987) – 4
DOCTOR SLEEP (2019) – 9 (rewatch) (director’s cut on Blu)
THE HORRIBLE SEXY VAMPIRE (1971) – 5
HOUSE II: THE SECOND STORY (1987) – 5 (mostly a waste but –
stop-motion!)
BLOOD RED SKY (2021) – 9 (very well done)
SMILE (2022) – 6 (well-made, but not as engrossing as I
hoped)
THE MUMMY (1933) – 9 (rewatch)
THE MUMMY’S CURSE (1944) – 6 (rewatch)
FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL (1974) – 8 (rewatch
on Blu)
HALLOWEEN ENDS (2022) – 7
DARK GLASSES (2022) – 6 (Argento returns for an OK thriller)
THE BLACK CAT (1934) – 9 (rewatch)
THE RAVEN (1935) – 8 (rewatch)
HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1944) – 7 (rewatch)
CRUCIBLE OF HORROR (1971) – 6 (interesting British creeper)
PARSOMNIA (2008) – 4 (needs to be about 15 minutes shorter)
X (2022) – 9
FATAL EXAM (1990) – 3 (needs to be about 30 minutes shorter
– at least)
HALLOWEEN 5: THE REVENGE OF MICHAEL MYERS (1989) – 4
(rewatch)
MEMORIAL VALLEY MASSACRE (1989) – 3 (low budget backwoods
slasher)
HALLOWEEN II (1981) – 7 (rewatch)
SCARE PACKAGE (2020) – 5 (mostly unfunny, poorly paced
anthology horror – last act ups it a point)
RENEGADE RANGER (1938) – 5 (standard B-western)
DON’T DELIVER US FROM EVIL (1971) – 7 (excellent French tale
of adolescent obsession)
FREDDIE’S DEAD: THE FINAL NIGHTMARE (1991) – 4 (rewatch)
SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD (2009) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)
SHALLOW GRAVE (1987) – 7 (surprisingly solid thriller)
PHONE (2002) – 7 (well done South Korean ghost tale)
GOODNIGHT, MOMMY (2022) – 8 (good psychological horror)
THE DEEP HOUSE (2021) – 8 (very good French horror)
FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 6: JASON LIVES (1986) – 7
(rewatch on Blu)
DEADSTREAM (2022) – 7 (entertaining, funny take on
livestreamed ghost hunting)
SCOOBY DOO AND KISS: ROCK AND ROLL MYSTERY (2015) – 6 (fun
animated adventure)
THE KILLER MUST KILL AGAIN (1975) – 8 (rewatch)
SHOCK (1977) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)
TERROR ABOARD (1933) – 6 (good pre-code murder thriller)
THE RETURN OF THE VAMPIRE (1943) – 8 (rewatch)
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