Barbarian

The ending of “Barbarian” reveals that the true monsters are not the deformed creature or even the house’s hidden horrors, but the humans who hide their malicious nature behind outward appearances of normalcy. Tess manages to escape the dungeon after a harrowing night, rescuing AJ, who is caught in the creature’s trap. As they try to flee, AJ’s greed and selfishness become apparent; he abandons Tess during their escape, climbing down the water tower while Tess struggles behind. In a final twist, AJ’s true character is exposed when he attempts to save himself at Tess’s expense, and the creature, which had previously shown moments of human-like mercy, ultimately kills him because of his callousness. Tess, meanwhile, recognizes that the creature, despite its monstrosity, was more innocent and trapped by its circumstances than truly evil. Her decision to shoot the creature at the end symbolizes her rejection of the toxic, predatory humans like Frank and AJ—people who appear respectable but harbor malicious intents. The film underscores a powerful message: the real barbarism lies in the cruelty, selfishness, and deceit of human beings, not in the outwardly deformed or the physically monstrous. Tess’s survival is not just about escaping a literal nightmare but also a symbolic victory over the darkness that humans can hide inside themselves. Ultimately, her act of mercy and strength highlights a key takeaway: true monsters are often hidden beneath the surface, and sometimes, no matter how horrifying, it’s human behavior that’s truly barbaric.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:44