“Barbarian” feels like the perfect movie to watch on Devil’s night as a double feature with “The Crow”. Both take place in Detroit and both are dark and violent. Both take place in a bad part of town, and both have their own hidden monsters, aka very bad people. What starts off as an awkward exploration of how uncomfortable a woman could be by taking one risky chance after another becomes something completely different with its twisty 2nd act. Staring Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgard, Richard Brake ("31" and "Mandy") and Jusitn Long ("Tusk").
Tess arrives in Detroit for a job interview, but things are not off to a great start. First her ex won't stop calling her, and then she discovers that her Airbnb has been double booked. Having nowhere else to go, Tess is coaxed to come in by the other guest, Keith. Initially hesitant, Tess gives Keith the benefit of doubt and decides to trust him. Sensing her unease, Keith does his best to defuse the situation and offers to sleep on the couch. Tensions ease more when Tess learns that Keith is involved in one of the groups her new job is planning on working with. When she awakes, Keith has already left for the day, so she leaves for her interview, now noticing the run-down condition of the neighborhood. The interview goes well and seems to be getting better, but when she arrives at the house, Tess is chased by a homeless man yelling wildly at her.
Shaken, Tess finds the basement door open. She goes to see what's in the basement but get locked in. Tess discovers a hidden corridor that contains a mattress, video camera, and bloody handprints. She is eventually freed when Keith arrives back at the house, and once Tess tells him what she's found, he takes the intuitive to search the corridor further. Fearing that something may have happened to Keith after a long absence, Tess goes back down the corridor, which becomes a series of tunnels in the dark. She finds Kieth, who is injured and terrified, and soon finds out who had harmed him.
From the dark to the bright sunshine filled backdrop of California, the film switches gears and focuses on AJ, a man who is having a rough day as well. First, he's accused of sexual assault on a co-star on tv series, then he finds out that he's been fired from said series. Having no immediate income but plenty of bills, and some new legal fees to deal with, AJ flies out to Detroit to sell some rental properties that he owns. Meeting up with a friend, he admits that he assaulted the girl but thought it wasn't a big deal; the complete opposite of Keith. AJ then goes to the house, which he owns, and discovers the basement. He becomes excited, thinking that he's discovered valuable extra square footage, when he becomes lost in the tunnels and is attacked by the Mother, the creature that killed Keith. AJ is tossed into a cell where he meets Tess. She's been down there for a few days and tells AJ that she thinks that they are her children.
Aat different times, both Tess and AJ manage to escape the cell. Tess makes it outside where she meets the homeless man who tells her that Mother will come out at night to look for her. Tess then is able to call the police, who when they arrive, dismiss her and threaten to take her in as the instigator. Meanwhile, AJ finds a room where Mother will not approach. Inside is an old man in a bed and various pieces of evidence that explains what is going on. Trying to help the man, AJ accidently provides the man the means to kill himself, escaping his crimes against humanity.
Through a series of events, Tess and AJ are chased around the neighborhood by Mother, with a climax ending on top of a water tower. AJ proves once again that he's not the hero, sacrificing Tess to save himself. Mother knows better, killing AJ and cuddling with an injured Tess, before Tess uses a gun to end Mother's torment.
