Barbarian

Creepy but not very credible horror tale in which two strangers (Georgina Campbell and Bill
Skarsgård) find that they’ve been double-booked to stay at the same house in Detroit. They make do, but a far larger problem looms when the dwelling turns out to contain terrifying secrets. The plot, which eventually involves the home’s absentee owner (Justin Long), a callous Hollywood actor facing a ruinous sexual harassment lawsuit, depends on much unrealistic behavior on the part of the principals. Grownups willing to treat writer-director Zach Cregger’s skin-crawler as a tongue-in-cheek kicking over of the traces may enjoy themselves, provided they don’t object to the underlying more-than-feminist theme depicting most men as cowardly predators. But they should be warned that, while far more restrained than the average slasher flick, the movie does include two fleeting scenes of thoroughly excessive blood-soaked mayhem. Look for: A wild variation on the hoary haunted house trope. Look out for: Brief but offensively gory violence, upper female and shadowy full nudity in a nonsexual context, about a half-dozen uses of profanity, several milder oaths, pervasive rough and some crude language. The Catholic Moviegoer’s guidance is L – suitable for a limited mature audience. The Motion Picture Association rating is R – restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.