Since its theatrical release on September 9th, Barbarian has continued to shock and gross out audiences, but viewers have disagreed on the grossest scene in the film. Zach Cregger's horror hit leaves plenty for audiences to analyze, but what fans zero in on may not have been the director's intent. While The Mother's actions are intentionally disturbing, it is actually a minor detail in the first act that causes germaphobes to squirm. Fans took to Twitter to point out that the grossest scene was actually Keith's toothbrush charging on the floor.
While it may be unsettling and unclean, Keith's toothbrush on the floor is not the grossest scene. When A.J. discovers true message of Barbarian comes from.
Why The Baby Bottle Scene Is Really Barbarian's Grossest Scene
If germaphobes are upset about the toothbrush standing upright on the ground, they should be very upset about a hairy baby bottle from who knows where. The bottle is extended by The Mother's filthy hands with her long yellow fingernails which adds to the gross-out factor. This is enough to make audiences feel sick, but there is also the implication that Tess has been stuck down in the tunnels drinking from the bottle for a while.The hair on the bottle comes from The Mother who looks like she never took a bath in her whole life. The Mother isn't concerned with cleanliness, so it is likely the bottle has never been cleaned and has been used by her other victims. The baby bottle could also go as far back as her own childhood and has been touched by many filthy mouths.
Barbarian's Grossest Scenes Make The Movie Better
There are many disturbing scenes in Barbarian that go beyond the gross-out factor. Not only is the baby bottle scene gross, but it also lays down the foundation for the next disturbing scene where The Mother forces A.J. to her breast to drink nonexistent milk. This adds to the horror, as it shows what The Mother truly wants is connection. The implications of The Mother's actions are horrific and will haunt beyond the theater-going experience.
While Barbarian provides plenty of scares, the horror also comes from the unseen. The Mother's abuse at the hands of Frank is never shown, as it exists in the subtext, adding to the movie's effective uneasiness. Barbarian succeeded where many horror movies fail and stayed in theaters for two months. The gross scenes help make the film more memorable and fuel word-of-mouth to give the film longevity. Barbarian didn't stay in theaters because of a poorly placed toothbrush, but because of The Mother and her unsettling actions.
