Justin Long reveals which Barbarian scene was cut because it was too ‘gross’
New horror film is about a woman who, after finding out her rental home is double-booked, decides to spend the night with the stranger living there
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Justin Long’s newest horror film, Barbarian, contains many chilling scenes, but there was one in particular he said was cut because it was far too “gross”.
Director Zach Creggers stars alongside Long, Bill Skarsgård, and Georgina Campbell in his thriller-mystery movie about a woman (Campbell) who finds her Airbnb-rented house is weirdly occupied by a stranger (Skarsgård). Against her better judgement, she decides to stay the night only to discover there’s more lurking in the house than just the stranger.
Since its late August release, the film has received critical praise, currently with 92 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes.
Speaking about its success in a recent interview with Vulture, Long explained that there’s a “very thin line between something creepy, unsettling, and potentially cinematic and something that is over-the-top farce – for comical wrong reasons”.
In one scene, Long’s character, AJ, “a grown man”, is seen being breastfed in the dungeon by the Mother (Matthew Patrick Davis).
“There was a moment after that where Mother, because I wouldn’t latch to her breast, she takes a rat – it’s scurrying by – and bites its head off and masticates it and baby-birds it into my mouth,” he recalled.
“Which was in the script, and I knew it was gonna happen. And we shot it right after we shot the breastfeeding scene,” he said. “Zach cut that out. He felt like it was a bridge too far gross-wise.”
He added: “I wouldn’t say I’m a method actor – but it was not the kind of thing I could come in and out of that easily.”
Long further discussed how he managed to stay in the proper “headspace” while filming the breastfeeding scene.
“[Patrick Davis] is the sweetest person. So he was checking in on me between takes, because he saw that I was agitated,” he remembered.
“From behind this grotesque face, he would say, ‘Are you okay?’ Like, really gently. ‘You okay, dude? Do you need anything?’It was odd, so I couldn’t help but laugh. It’s ludicrous.
“Then you realise what we’re doing, and it’s, like, he’s about to shove his prosthetic nipple into my mouth. It all becomes immediately hilarious,” he said.
“It’s such a fine line. I thought it was funny, too, that, without realising it, he was being so naturally maternal. It was a lot. I remember at the end of that day being very exhausted. It’s exhausting doing that stuff.”
Barbarian is out in cinemas now.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments