A bad review isn’t the worst thing an Airbnb can have. For Night 10 of the 13 Nights of Halloween Horror, we’re watching Barbarian (2022), Zach Cregger’s unpredictable horror film that turns an awkward Airbnb mix-up into a terrifying fight for survival.
When Tess Marshall arrives at her rental home in Detroit, she discovers that it has already been booked by a stranger named Keith. With nowhere else to go, she reluctantly agrees to share the house with him. But when strange noises and a hidden passage lead her into the basement, Tess discovers that the house holds secrets far more disturbing than she could have imagined.
Through unexpected twists, claustrophobic settings, and moments of dark humor, Cregger explores the dangers of misplaced trust and the horrors that can hide behind ordinary doors. Barbarian will leave you jumping at every creak of the floorboards and checking every corner when the lights go out.
Fun fact: Barbarian was filmed primarily in Bulgaria, with Detroit serving as the setting for the story. The filmmakers recreated the neighborhood and its abandoned-looking houses to capture the atmosphere of a struggling Detroit community. The film’s ordinary-looking rental house makes its horrifying secrets feel all the more disturbing.
Barbarian is available for members of the American University community to borrow on DVD from Bender Library.
Come back tomorrow to see our pick for Night 11 of the 13 Nights of Halloween Horror.