Say Goodbye to HBO Max's Most Intense Thriller of the 2020s

Published Sep 12, 2026, 8:14 AM EDT

Abby Jackam is a contributer for Collider and ShowSnob, a media journalist for Trill Mag, and an aspiring novelist. She graduated Washington State University Vancouver in 2025 with a Bachelor's degree in Humanities. 

Whenever she can, Abby is writing. From research papers to book reviews, Abby's passion lies in storytelling and literary pursuits. 

The 2022 thriller film Barbarian is set to leave streaming on September 30th. Directed by Zach Cregger, the film found a new home on HBO Max but will soon be departing. Viewers only have a short time left to watch before it leaves. Fans of the horror genre won't want to miss out on this last opportunity to watch one of the most intense and shocking films from the last few years.

While the setting is relatively normal, the greater story is anything but. Barbarian presents itself as a domestic thriller, but reveals its true nature during the film's second act. As the stakes raise and the situation becomes more deadly, the characters will have to face each other and whatever unearthly threat that seems to be stalking them. For fans seeking a captivating thriller, Barbarian is the movie for them.

'Barbarian' Takes Horror to a New Level

Image via 20th Century Studios

When Tess (Georgia Campbell) arrives at her Airbnb late at night, she's shocked to find that someone else is already inside. The house has also been booked by Keith (Bill Skarsgard), who offers to share the Airbnb with her until the morning. Tess agrees but soon realizes that something is off about the house. When she discovers a secret passage in the basement that leads underground, Tess and Keith come face-to-face with something more dangerous than they could have imagined.

Barbarian excels at misdirection. What seems obvious is quickly revealed to be untrue, with new twists adding to the horror of the story. The house itself has a mysterious and dark past that is only one part of the greater plot. As the film continues on, the past and present intertwine to tell a tale of pain, abandonment, and terror. Viewers watching for the first time will have the best experience if they go into it blind, as the story progresses in unpredictable ways.

Zach Cregger Understands Horror

Zach Cregger is a formidable name in the horror genre. Known primarily for his comedy, the actor took to horror film-making with Barbarian, writing and directing the project. In 2025, he directed Weapons, another popular installment in the horror genre. With two successful films under his belt, it's clear that the genre has found a new creative filmmaker. Using his past in comedy, Zach Cregger's work balances the line between light and dark. His work often centers in familiar settings but includes paranormal twists. With hints of humor and plenty of suspense, Barbarian showcases the director's ability to tell a layered and emotionally charged story.

Cregger has found his stride directing thrilling horror films and it shows. Barbarian is full of abrupt tone shifts and painfully long shots, adding to the disjointed, unsettling feel of the film. Cregger's approach to horror is to sit with the normalcy of the situation, letting the true terror simmer just beneath the surface. Audiences get accustomed to the safe environment, which makes the sudden glimpses into the supernatural so effective. The film isn't just violence and jumpscares, but is determined to tell a deeper story that remains bone chilling till the end.

With Barbarian set to leave streaming so soon, horror fans have one more chance to appreciate the film before it leaves HBO Max. For fans of the genre, it will be exciting to see where Cregger directorial career will go from here. Currently, he is set to release Resident Evil on September 18th, attaching his unique style to the beloved video game series. If Barbarian is any indicator, horror fans can expect Cregger's unique style to continue on in many thrillers to come.