Barbarian

NZ release: 27 October 2022

Graphic violence, horror, sexual violence references and offensive language Rated on: 07 October 2022

Barbarian

What’s it about?

Tess comes to Detroit for a job interview and finds her Airbnb double-booked. Unfortunately, the Airbnb is not what it seems.

Why did it get this rating?

Horror

The film sustains a sense of threat and horror throughout, with jump scares. Beneath the Airbnb is a claustrophobic horror setting. Someone is living there.

Graphic violence

The violence includes blood and gore, including heads being bashed, limbs torn and eyes gouged.

While the depiction of the violence is often brief and in dimly lit situations, the sense of threat beforehand heightens the impact.

Sexual violence

The film contains references to rape, including women being kidnapped and forced to have children. A man denies rape allegations in a manner that makes it clear he did rape a woman.

These references are not detailed or frequent but are a significant element of the plot.

Offensive language

The film contains frequent offensive language, including "motherf**ker", "f**k", "f**got", "b**ch" and "sh*t".

Recent featured decisions

12 February 2025

Graphic violence & offensive language

When the girl of his dreams is kidnapped, assistant bank manager Nate Caine uses his rare inability to feel pain as a surprising advantage, taking on a gang of thugs to rescue her.

Read more

30 May 2019

He iti te whakarekereke

E whakahokia mai ai ōna whenua, ka whakaae a Shrek ki te whakaora i a Pirihini Fiona, mā Tā Farquaad, te tangata kiriweti ki te mahi pohewa, engari ka taupuhi ia ki te Pirinihi i runga i tana haerenga.

Read more