Zack Cregger's Barbarian is a fascinating American horror movie with an unsettling premise. Starring Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, and Justin Long, it follows the story of a young woman named Tess whose search for employment lands her in a terrifying situation.
Tess booked a rental home to tide her over before a job interview. However, upon arriving at her accommodation, she discovers that she isn't the only tenant staying there. She decides to stay but soon discovers that this stranger isn't the only presence she should fear. Barbarian is unique in how its story plays out. It is chock-full of shocking twists and turns that only a few other horrors have been able to implement to this degree.
10 Hush (2016)
Mike Flanagan's Hush follows a deaf and mute young writer named Maddie Young whose search for isolation lands her in a truly perilous situation. In an attempt to distance herself from reality, she makes a home for herself in the forest to focus on writing, but the arrival of a masked murderer renders her getaway a great deal more stressful.
Like Barbarian, Hush is set in what should be a relaxing environment. Though Maddie's experiences are lacking in paranormal elements, the sense of claustrophobia set up by the movie's setting echoes the premise of Barbarian exceptionally well.
9 His House (2020)
Remi Weekes's His House follows the heart-wrenching story of two refugees who narrowly escape South Sudan amidst a war. They believe their troubles are behind them, but their new home has a way of reminding them of their terrifying past.
Bol and Rial are forced to suffer some truly terrifying events throughout His House, similar to what Tess experienced in Barbarian. His House begins to slowly incorporate more and more surreal elements as the narrative progresses, making it one of the most unsettling horrors of 2020.
8 X (2022)
Ti West's X follows a group of inexperienced filmmakers as they set off to Texas to shoot an explicit adult movie. They arrive at a farm on which they plan to occupy the guesthouse, only to learn that the couple living there are somewhat unhinged.
X doesn't rely on otherworldly phenomena to tell its story because it doesn't have to. The premise is disturbing, and the characters are unsettling, with both working together to elevate the story. It utilizes many of the same themes from Barbarian without overstepping or becoming too similar.
7 The Boy (2016)
William Brent Bell's The Boy tells the story of a child-minder named Greta whose profession leads her to an unusual job. After meeting the child's parents, she learns that the boy she has chosen to mind is actually a life-size porcelain doll.
As days pass, Greta begins noticing some unusual happenings in the house. The doll has started moving around as if it were alive. Most would flee from a situation like this, but Greta embraces it and stays, much like Tess does in Barbarian.
6 Men (2022)
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Alex Garland's Men follows Harper Marlowe, a recent widow, who journeys to Cotson for a brief holiday. The sudden death of her husband has turned her world upside down, so she believes that some time away from the city will help her come to terms with it.
Though it happens slowly throughout the story, Marlowe's world begins to unravel. The people she encounters on her trip exist solely to remind her of the reason she's here, with some even trying to guilt her into believing her husband's death was her fault. It's an unsettling watch that echoes numerous similarities to Barbarian.
5 House
Nobuhiko Obayashi's House follows a young schoolgirl who journeys to her aunt's mansion to secure an enjoyable summer holiday. Before leaving, her father revealed that he had started seeing someone, but Gorgeous remained skeptical about his girlfriend's intentions.
House is ridiculous from start to finish in that it completely disregards conventional storytelling. Each day Gorgeous spends in her aunt's home further reveals the horrors lurking inside. It is similar to Barbarian in that sense but much more absurd.
4 Don't Breathe (2016)
Fede Álvarez's Don't Breathe tells the story of an amateur burglary gone horribly wrong. Money, Rocky, and Alex take pride in robbing wealthy houses, but their attempt to invade a blind war veteran's home in search of his cash settlement result in them being hunted.
Though the war veteran is blind, his survival skills are unmatched. The trio spends the majority of the film narrowly avoiding his clutches until they are all either caught or killed. The sense of entrapment in the narrative is similar to that of Barbarian in that it doesn't allow for any breathing room for both the characters and the audience.
3 The Strangers (2008)
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Bryan Bertino's The Strangers follows a couple whose brief stay at a family vacation home lands them in the middle of a sinister game. They become targets for a group of murderers and, with nowhere else to turn, are forced to survive their attacks without help from anyone else.
The Strangers takes its time in conveying James and Kristen's story, further amplifying the movie's horror elements. Its depiction of violence is mostly subtle at the beginning but becomes extremely gory and upsetting towards the climax. Like Barbarian, it never shies away from depicting gruesome deaths.
2 Evil Dead 2 (1987)
Sam Raimi's Evil Dead 2 took the best elements from the previous movie and implemented a much more comedic approach to its story. It follows Ash Williams, an eccentric young man, whose brief getaway to a remote cabin led him to unearth some terrifying demons.
Though Barbarian is lacking in terms of humor, Raimi's Evil Dead 2 displays a variety of similarities in terms of its story. Themes of isolation are present throughout each movie, even if Raimi chooses to somewhat conceal them behind Ash's comical nature.
1 Creep
Patrick Brice's Creep is one of the most unsettling films to ever grace cinema. It follows a videographer named Aaron whose quest for fame led him to meet a strange man named Josef. During their first encounter, Josef reveals that he has a brain tumor and, in the hope of leaving something behind for his unborn daughter, he asks Aaron to record a day of his life.
Creep is similar to Barbarian in that it follows a familiar premise. The opening of each movie alludes to ideas of danger without ever explicitly acknowledging it. It is only after each story progresses that the true horrors lurking behind their subtleties are revealed.
Barbarian is now playing in theaters.