Trailers often get a lot of flak for spoiling their movies, so it’s super refreshing when you see one that intrigues the hell out of you without giving away any of the film’s secrets. For example, the trailers for Jordan Peele’s movies are usually great at that, and now we can add another one to this lamentably short list: the trailer for Barbarian. Here’s what the film is about:
In Barbarian, a young woman traveling to Detroit for a job interview books a rental home. But when she arrives late at night, she discovers that the house is double booked, and a strange man is already staying there. Against her better judgment, she decides to spend the evening, but soon discovers that there’s a lot more to fear than just an unexpected house guest.
That plot description is super vague, and the trailer for Barbarian is just as mysterious. It starts off innocently enough, but at about the one-minute mark, everything changes. The horror really kicks into gear, and it lets us know without a doubt that this is going to be a creepily fiendish ride.
But interestingly, it never gives us any clues about what’s actually going on in this story. In fact, it doesn’t tell us much of anything about what to expect. The trailer doesn’t spoil any big scares, and it keeps us almost completely in the dark about the film’s plot. It’s totally mysterious, but it still manages to be super intriguing.
And that’s what I love about it. I really want to know the truth about this house, but I have no idea what it could be. Is it supernatural? Is there a mad scientist living in the basement? Or is it something else entirely? I honestly haven’t got a clue, and I absolutely love it.
Barbarian is set to hit theaters on August 31.