I think Barbarian is fine, often very fun, but it’s so much more free and alive than this ever is. A deeply self-conscious film that’s “about” a whole lot, never interested enough in any of it, and at its best when Cregger lets go. Wish he’d just commit the the latter. A real have its cake and eat it too kinda movie where you can feel it straining at wanting to meet a million different moments while still being a raucous horror movie. Never finds a solid middle, and it’s frustrating because there’s a lot to like! I hope Cregger keeps getting to make whatever he wants, though. I think there’s something truly great somewhere in there. Maybe one day.

I did really love Josh Brolin’s performance as everyone’s deeply stupid right wing uncle, figuring it all out lmao.