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Spoilers For Barbarian AheadJustin Long may be similarly as well-known for being a movie star as he is for dating a number of famous actors. After all, he has been involved with Drew Barrymore and was as soon as in a long-term relationship with Mamma Mia's Amanda Seyfried. And that is just the tip of the iceberg.
However, his relatively public non-public lifestyles mustn't overshadow his contributions to the film and television industry. While Justin has been the superstar of a lot of comedies, equivalent to Accepted, Dodgeball, He's Just Not That Into You, Youth In Revolt, and New Girl, he's also well-known for his horror films.
It's most likely that his notable presence in Jeepers Creepers, Tusk, Drag Me To Hell and Lavender landed him in this year's Barbarian. The Zach Cregger horror film is nothing in need of worrying. And most of that is what Justin's character, AJ, is going via in addition to causes.
In an interview with Vulture, Justin shed some gentle on who he thinks is the real antagonist of the terrifying movie.
What Is Barbarian About?
Barbarian, which is the brainchild of creator/director Zach Cregger, is a few girl (performed via Georgina Campbell) who rents a Detriot Air BnB and discovers that it will simply be the worst one in historical past. After all, there is a dismal, disgusting, and terrible secret lurking in the basement.
This is the place Justin Long's outrageously selfish AJ Gilbride finds himself. And let's simply say some pretty horrific things occur to him there.
But regardless of there being a real monster in Barbarian, the film seems to be about poisonous masculinity. Much of this is encapsulated in the persona of AJ. At least, consistent with Justin.
What Is The Monster In Barbarian?
While there may be a monster (Mother) in Barbarian, Justin Long believes that AJ is the real villain. And as pointed out by way of Vulture, he is conscious that the target market is rooting for him to get what he merits via the film's finish.
"There were so many things Zach [Cregger] did with the script that I did not see coming. I had expectations that were constantly being subverted. That was one of them," Justin Long stated of the divulge that his character may just be the real monster in the movie.
This is something that the character himself turns out to comprehend through the end.
"[AJ] has that little moment at the end where he realizes, 'Maybe I’m a bad person, or am I a good person who did a bad thing?' He’s wrestling with it, and it’s the closest he comes to accountability. And I thought, 'Oh okay, that’s gonna be his moment of redemption — or as close to redemption as that character will get'. Then, sure enough, a couple minutes later, that goes out the window, and he throws Georgie off the tower."
Despite Justin liking the thought of seeing a "glimmer of humanity" in the back of the complex personality, the creator/director didn't want him to break out with the dangerous things he is performed.
"[By the end] there are two characters left, and one of them continues to be despicable. I think it does make it a lot easier for the audience to want him to d*e," Justin admitted to Vulture.
"At that point, the Mother, who you think is the monster, is becoming a lot more sympathetic and, by the end, is quite sympathetic. There’s something that struck me watching it for the first time with an audience — how moving that final moment is. I mean, if you are invested enough — the audience I saw it with was — it was unexpectedly poignant and tragic and kind of beautiful."
Justin went on to say that the ending reminded him of plenty of classic horror films, akin to Frankenstein or even King Kong.
"When the real monster, my character, does finally d*e, that was a surreal moment to watch with a juiced-up audience at Comic-Con. Everyone broke into applause. Which is an interesting thing in what it says about human nature," Justin explained.
Is Barbarian About Toxic Masculinity?
As for the identification of the real villain in 2022's Barbarian, Justin Long believes it to be more than just AJ. According to his interview with Vulture, it is "men" in common.
"I think it’s men. It’s whoever is the invader, right? Whoever the barbarian is is the one who invaded somebody’s safe space. And, in Mother’s case, it was obviously her father," Justin stated of what Mother's father did to her. "Then AJ did a barbaric thing by being invasive without her consent. The real barbarian was probably my character and Richard Brake’s Frank character."
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