If you were captivated by the suspense, twists and terror of the 2022 horror hit ‘Barbarian’, you’re probably craving more movies that deliver similar thrills. Directed by Zach Cregger, ‘Barbarian’ follows a young woman who discovers the rental home she booked is already occupied by a stranger, leading her down a shocking and sinister path.
The film’s claustrophobic setting, slow-burn mystery and unexpected reveals made it a standout in the horror genre. For those seeking the same heart-pounding experience, here are 20 must-see movies that share DNA with ‘Barbarian’. From home invasion nightmares to creepy Airbnb stays gone wrong, these films will keep you sleeping with the lights on.
1. Don’t Breathe (2016)
One of the most apt comparisons to ‘Barbarian’ is Fede Álvarez’s 2016 thriller ‘Don’t Breathe’. The film follows a trio of thieves who break into the home of a blind military veteran, believing he has a fortune stashed inside. But the tables quickly turn as they discover the man is far more dangerous than they imagined.
Like ‘Barbarian’, much of ‘Don’t Breathe’ takes place within the confines of a single house, maximizing the dread and tension. The blind man, with his keen remaining senses and combat skills, becomes a terrifying adversary. Both films also feature a seemingly innocent victim harboring dark secrets. If you enjoyed the cat-and-mouse dynamic and claustrophobic terror of ‘Barbarian’, ‘Don’t Breathe’ is a must-watch.
2. The Invitation (2015)
Another dinner party from hell, Karyn Kusama’s ‘The Invitation’ is a slow-burn nightmare that will leave you reeling. The film centers on Will (Logan Marshall-Green) as he attends a dinner party hosted by his ex-wife at his former home. As the night wears on, Will suspects his ex and her new husband have sinister intentions for their guests.
‘The Invitation’ masterfully builds a sense of paranoia and unease, making you question what’s real. The dinner party setting creates an inescapable pressure cooker similar to the rental home in ‘Barbarian’. Both films play with perceptions, making you distrust even the most welcoming of faces. If you want a psychological thriller that will keep you guessing, accept ‘The Invitation’.
3. The Night House (2020)
Grief and ghosts collide in David Bruckner’s ‘The Night House’. Rebecca Hall stars as Beth, a widow uncovering disturbing secrets about her recently deceased husband. As she digs through his belongings in their lakeside home, she begins to experience chilling supernatural visions that may or may not be all in her head.
Like ‘Barbarian’, ‘The Night House’ takes place largely in a single eerie location that becomes a character itself. The house holds hidden rooms and dark mysteries waiting to be discovered. Both films also center on a woman facing the trauma and secrets buried within the walls. With its surreal and unsettling atmosphere, ‘The Night House’ is perfect for fans of the psychological horror of ‘Barbarian’.
4. Hush (2016)
Home invasion horror gets a fresh spin in Mike Flanagan’s ‘Hush’. Kate Siegel stars as Maddie, a deaf-mute writer living an isolated existence in the woods. One night, a masked killer begins stalking her home, leading to a deadly game of cat-and-mouse.
What ‘Hush’ lacks in supernatural scares it makes up for in pure, relentless tension. Like ‘Barbarian’, it traps its protagonist in a single location with a terrifying predator lurking inside. Maddie’s inability to hear the killer adds another layer of fear, similar to Tess stumbling blindly through the dark tunnels. ‘Hush’ is a masterclass in bare-bones suspense perfect for ‘Barbarian’ fans.
5. The Rental (2020)
Two couples on an oceanside getaway find themselves in a nightmare in Dave Franco’s directorial debut ‘The Rental’. Secrets and tensions boil to the surface in their cliffside rental home, but the group soon suspects they’re not alone and being watched by an unknown presence.
‘The Rental’ taps into the very real fear of Airbnb stays gone horribly wrong, similar to Tess’s experience in ‘Barbarian’. The picturesque vacation home becomes a scenic prison as paranoia takes hold. Both films prove you never know what’s lurking in the properties you rent. Check into ‘The Rental’ for a weekend you won’t soon forget.
6. You’re Next (2011)
A family reunion turns into a bloody battle for survival in Adam Wingard’s ‘You’re Next’. The Davison family gathers at their remote vacation home, only to fall under siege by a group of animal-masked assailants. But one of the guests, Erin (Sharni Vinson), has a few survival tricks up her sleeve.
‘You’re Next’ takes the classic slasher setup and injects it with dark humor and clever twists. The sprawling house becomes a deadly labyrinth as Erin fights back against the invaders. Like ‘Barbarian’, it delivers gory thrills while subverting expectations at every turn. For a blood-soaked good time, make ‘You’re Next’ your next pick.
7. The Strangers (2008)
Bryan Bertino’s ‘The Strangers’ preys on the fear of home invasion by masked intruders. Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman star as a couple staying at a remote vacation home who find themselves stalked and terrorized by three strangers. The film’s tagline says it all – “Because you were home.”
‘The Strangers’ creates terror in the mundane – a knock at the door, a record skipping, a creaking floorboard. It taps into the unsettling notion that you’re never truly safe, even in your own home. Like the basement dwelling in ‘Barbarian’, the danger is coming from inside the house. Lock your doors and prepare for a night of pure tension with ‘The Strangers’.
8. Green Room (2015)
Punk rock and neo-Nazis clash in Jeremy Saulnier’s siege thriller ‘Green Room’. A struggling band finds themselves trapped in the green room of a remote club after witnessing a murder committed by a group of white supremacists. A brutal standoff ensues as the band fights to survive the night.
While ‘Green Room’ trades supernatural scares for all-too-real terror, it shares ‘Barbarian’s’ claustrophobic tension. The characters are backed into a corner, forced to use their wits and limited resources to battle a threat just outside the door. With intense performances from Anton Yelchin and Patrick Stewart, ‘Green Room’ is a punk rock nightmare you won’t soon forget.
9. The People Under the Stairs (1991)
Wes Craven’s 1991 cult classic ‘The People Under the Stairs’ follows a young boy and two adult thieves who break into a house rumored to contain gold coins. Inside, they discover a disturbed brother and sister duo and their horrifying secret – a basement full of kidnapped children.
‘The People Under the Stairs’ blends dark humor with shocking horror, creating a funhouse mirror of suburban America. Like ‘Barbarian’, the film takes place largely in a single house that holds hidden rooms and terrifying secrets. You’ll never look at a creaky staircase the same way again after descending into ‘The People Under the Stairs’.
10. Creep (2014)
Found footage meets Craigslist horror in Patrick Brice’s unsettling indie hit ‘Creep’. A cash-strapped videographer (played by Brice) answers an online ad for a one-day job at a remote mountain town. When he arrives at his eccentric client’s (Mark Duplass) house, he slowly realizes he may be documenting his own death.
Shot on a shoestring budget, ‘Creep’ proves you don’t need fancy effects to create effective horror. Duplass’s unnerving performance keeps you on edge, much like Bill Skarsgård’s deceptively charming turn in ‘Barbarian’. The film taps into the very real fear of meeting a stranger off the internet and the danger that can bring. Log on to ‘Creep’ for a chilling two-hander.
11. Mother! (2017)
Darren Aronofsky’s divisive psychological thriller ‘Mother!’ stars Jennifer Lawrence as a young woman whose tranquil life with her older husband (Javier Bardem) is upended when two mysterious strangers arrive at their home. As more and more guests appear, their house descends into chaotic madness.
‘Mother!’ is an allegory-laden fever dream that will leave your mind reeling. The single house setting becomes a nightmarish labyrinth that consumes Lawrence’s character. Like ‘Barbarian’, the film plays with concepts of gender dynamics and power imbalances. It’s a challenging watch, but one that will stick with you long after the credits roll.
12. The Collector (2009)
Before delivering frights in the ‘Saw’ franchise, Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton penned this twisted home invasion thriller. ‘The Collector’ follows an ex-con who breaks into his employer’s country home, only to discover a masked figure has already infiltrated the house and set up a maze of deadly traps.
If you’re a fan of the ‘Saw’ series, you’ll feel right at home in ‘The Collector’s’ house of horrors. Like ‘Barbarian’, the film delivers gore galore and inventive kills. The masked villain, with his eerie design and brutal methods, rivals any of the genre’s iconic slashers. Collect all your courage and give this one a spin.
13. Intruders (2015)
Adam Schindler’s ‘Intruders’ (also known as ‘Shut In’) follows an agoraphobic woman (Beth Riesgraf) who must defend her home against a trio of dangerous thieves. But as the night unfolds, it becomes clear the woman is harboring her own dark secrets that make her a formidable foe.
‘Intruders’ flips the script on the home invasion subgenre, turning the victim into a surprising threat. Riesgraf delivers a commanding lead performance, much like Georgina Campbell’s star-making turn in ‘Barbarian’. The film also shares ‘Barbarian’s’ knack for pulling the rug out from under you with shocking twists. Don’t let ‘Intruders’ invade your watchlist without giving it a shot.
14. The Ones Below (2015)
A young couple expecting their first child find their lives upended by the arrival of new tenants in the apartment below in this British psychological thriller. At first, the new neighbors seem perfect – a bit too perfect. But a tragic accident sends both couples spiraling down a dark path.
‘The Ones Below’ is a slow-burn chiller that preys on the anxieties of prospective parents. The film builds an overwhelming sense of unease through subtle glances and unanswered questions. Like the revelations lurking in ‘Barbarian’s’ basement, the truth is hiding in plain sight, waiting to be uncovered at the worst possible moment. Unlock the door to ‘The Ones Below’ for an unsettling peek at the horrors of domesticity.
15. Funny Games (1997/2007)
Michael Haneke’s sadistic thriller ‘Funny Games’ follows two young men who infiltrate a family’s vacation home and subject them to a night of psychological and physical torture. The film was originally made in Austria in 1997, then remade shot-for-shot by Haneke in the U.S. in 2007 with Naomi Watts and Tim Roth.
Both versions of ‘Funny Games’ serve as a searing critique of media violence and an unflinching look at the brutality of human nature. Like ‘Barbarian’, Haneke’s film lures you in with a false sense of security before ripping the rug out with shocking violence. It’s a notoriously tough watch, but a thought-provoking one for fans of challenging cinema.
16. The Loved Ones (2009)
Hell hath no fury like a teenage girl scorned in Sean Byrne’s Australian horror film ‘The Loved Ones’. When Brent (Xavier Samuel) rejects classmate Lola’s (Robin McLeavy) invitation to the prom, he’s kidnapped and subjected to a terrifying night of torture in Lola’s home, with her doting father’s help.
‘The Loved Ones’ mixes pitch black humor with cringeworthy gore, creating a demented take on the teen romance. Lola makes for a memorable villain, her pink dress and sweet demeanor masking a sadistic soul. Like ‘Barbarian’, the film takes pleasure in subverting expectations and delivering the Grand Guignol goods. Make a date with ‘The Loved Ones’ for a twisted time.
17. Housebound (2014)
This New Zealand horror comedy follows Kylie (Morgana O’Reilly), a troubled young woman placed on house arrest in her childhood home. As she’s forced to reconnect with her estranged mother, Kylie begins to suspect the house is haunted. But the truth is far more bizarre than she could imagine.
‘Housebound’ perfectly balances laughs and scares, with a fun mystery that keeps you guessing. Like ‘Barbarian’, the film knows the power of a good location, turning the house into a character itself. It also delivers a strong female lead in the snarky and resourceful Kylie. Lock yourself in with ‘Housebound’ for a spooky good time.
18. The Pact (2012)
After their abusive mother passes away, sisters Annie (Caity Lotz) and Nicole (Agnes Bruckner) return to their childhood home to settle her affairs. But when Nicole disappears, Annie must confront the dark secrets and supernatural forces lurking in the house.
‘The Pact’ creates a chilling atmosphere on a low budget, delivering effective scares and a compelling mystery. Like ‘Barbarian’, it centers on a woman uncovering the horrors of the past in an unassuming home. The film also features a breakout performance from Lotz, who would go on to star in the ‘Arrowverse’ series. Make a ‘Pact’ to give this underseen gem a chance.
19. Them (2006)
This French horror film follows a couple, Clémentine (Olivia Bonamy) and Lucas (Michaël Cohen), as they’re terrorized by a group of hooded assailants in their country home. The film is notorious for its brutal violence and unrelenting tension.
‘Them’ is a lean, mean exercise in pure terror. Like ‘Barbarian’, it preys on the fear of the unknown, with the attackers’ motives and identities kept in the shadows. The film’s remote location and minimalist sound design create an oppressive atmosphere of dread. Brace yourself for a rough ride with ‘Them’.
20. Inside (2007)
Another entry in the New French Extremity movement, ‘Inside’ follows a pregnant woman (Alysson Paradis) who’s stalked and attacked in her home by a mysterious woman (Béatrice Dalle) intent on stealing her unborn baby.
‘Inside’ is one of the most intense and gruesome films on this list, not for the faint of heart. Like ‘Barbarian’, it creates a sense of claustrophobic dread as the protagonist is trapped in a confined space with a terrifying threat. Dalle’s unhinged performance rivals the Mother’s feral ferocity. For those who can stomach it, ‘Inside’ delivers unforgettable horror.
There you have it – 20 films to keep you up at night after watching ‘Barbarian’. From home invasion horrors to twisted tales of unlikely villains, these movies share DNA with Cregger’s terrifying hit. Whether you’re in the mood for a tense psychological slow-burn or a gory funhouse of terror, there’s a film on this list for every taste.
So lock your doors, check your basement for secret passages, and settle in for a spooky movie marathon. Just don’t blame us if you need to sleep with the lights on afterwards. Happy haunting, horror fans!
