A horror film that has been called a “masterpiece” and has a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes is available to watch for free this week
Lucas Hill-Paul Content Editor and Grace Piercy
20:43, 27 Oct 2025
A terrifying ‘masterpiece’ boasting a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes is available for free, just in time for Halloween.
Barbarian is a 2022 American horror film penned and helmed by Zach Cregger in his first solo screenwriting and directorial effort.
Featuring Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, and Justin Long, the storyline follows a woman who discovers that the rental property she booked has been mistakenly double-reserved by a man, unaware of the sinister secret lurking within the house. Zach Cregger drew inspiration from the non-fiction work The Gift of Fear, which urges women to trust their instincts and not dismiss the unconscious warning signs that emerge in their daily encounters with men.
He settled down to craft a single thirty-page sequence that would weave in as many of these warning signs as possible.
Barbarian has been described as exploring themes connected to sexual assault, incest and psychological damage, alongside various manifestations of misogyny.
Barbarian was inspired by nonfiction book The Gift Of Fear(Image: 20th Century Studios)READ MORE: ‘Outstanding’ Marvel movie with ‘perfect’ cast confirms streaming date and it’s very soonREAD MORE: Iconic 2010s Nickelodeon comedy gets long-awaited spin-off from Netflix
It will be available to stream for free on Channel 4 after it airs tonight (Monday, 27th October) on Film4 at 1:40am.
The picture earned £30.56 million in the United States and Canada, plus £3.37 million in additional markets, achieving a global sum of £33.93 million against a production cost of £3.37 million.
On Rotten Tomatoes, 92% of 207 critics’ assessments are favourable, with an average score of 7.5 out of 10. The site’s summary states: “Smart, darkly humorous and above all scary, Barbarian offers a chilling and consistently unpredictable thrill ride for horror fans”, reports the Express.
On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 78 out of 100, indicating “generally favourable” reviews.
Audiences polled by PostTrak gave the film a 70% overall positive score, with 54% saying they would definitely recommend it.
According to Whip Media, Barbarian was the most-streamed film across all platforms in the United States during the week ending October 30 and the sixth during the week ending November 13.
One reviewer described Barbarian as a “masterpiece” and “one of the most unique horror films I’ve seen in a very long time.”
Barbarian has a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes(Image: 20th Century Studios)
They added: “From its unsettling atmosphere to its jaw-dropping plot twist, the film keeps you on edge, constantly subverting expectations.
“What makes it so incredible is how it plays with horror tropes and then spirals into something much darker and completely unpredictable. The tension-building is impeccable, with every scene dripping in suspense, making you feel as lost and terrified as the characters.
“The plot twist? Absolutely mind-blowing! Just when you think you have the film figured out, it flips everything on its head in the most shocking and disturbing way.”
Another viewer said: “Truly one of the BEST movies I’ve watched in a long time. It’s rare to see a movie these days that can actually surprise you.
“Incredible suspense the entire time- palms clammy, in a good way. The thrills/scares are broken up with some excellent comic relief by Justin Long, right when you need it.”
Barbarian will air tonight at 1:40am on Film4 and will be available to stream on Channel 4.
