Warning: This article discusses spoilers for the twisty new horror film “Barbarian.” If you haven’t seen it yet, check out our nonspoilery review here and more with the cast and director here.

Barbarian is so consistently perplexing it gave me frown lines I’ll have forever. Maybe it’s best not to know that Barbarian was written and directed by a comedy guy.

This story contains major spoilers for Barbarian. On the opening day of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, one film was on everybody’s lips. As I ran into other critics around ...

Barbarian Rated R for nudity, bloodshed and suggestion of rape. Running time: 1 hour 42 minutes. In theaters. Barbarian. NYT Critic’s Pick. Find Tickets.

“Barbarian” regularly suckers you into letting your guard down because it earns your suspension of disbelief throughout, and then winds up being exactly as upsetting and mean as it needs to be.