Acclaimed Horror Thriller ‘Barbarian’ Skipped German Cinemas – Now Available for Streaming
2 min read
The horror film Barbarian became a surprise hit upon its release in 2022. Directed by Zachary “Zach” Michael Cregger, who is also known for his acting roles in Guys with Kids and Wrecked, the film received significant acclaim. However, despite its success, Barbarian was never shown in German cinemas. Instead, it was directly added to a streaming platform’s catalogue, where it remains available to watch.
Barbarian: The Story
The plot of Barbarian follows Tess Marshall (played by Georgina Campbell), who is looking for a fresh start after a difficult relationship. She travels to Detroit for a job interview and books accommodation for her stay. However, upon arrival, she discovers that the property has already been rented out to a man named Keith Toshko (Bill Skarsgård), who reserved it through a different platform.
With no other available lodgings nearby, Tess decides to stay. Despite initial apprehensions, she eventually gets along with Keith, who offers to sleep on the couch. Things take a sinister turn when Tess stumbles upon an old video camera in the basement. Curious, Keith also wants to take a look.
When Tess later hears Keith calling for help, she follows his voice and finds him trapped in a hidden underground chamber. He claims to have been bitten by someone. A few weeks later, a Hollywood actor appears in Detroit to visit the house—his property in the now run-down neighbourhood.
Barbarian Never Reached German Cinemas
Barbarian was released in US cinemas in early September 2022 but never made it to the big screen in Germany. Instead, it debuted on the streaming platform Disney+ in late December 2022. This omission is particularly surprising, considering the film’s overwhelmingly positive reception.
On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Barbarian boasts a remarkable 92% approval rating from professional critics. Meanwhile, IMDb users have rated it a solid 7.0 out of 10. A review published on Kino-Zeit commented on the decision not to release the film in German cinemas, stating: “While one can never fully understand the inner workings of major Hollywood studios, some of their decisions remain difficult—if not impossible—to comprehend.”
