Plot: What’s it about?
I’ve said it before, but one of the joys of being a reviewer on a site like this is that I’m never sure what I’ll be sent to review. That can go a few different ways (some titles are just junk, but that goes with the territory), but in the case of The Barber, I was pleasantly surprised. I’m at the point where I never judge a film by its cover, but seeing Scott Glenn holding a straight edge razor did intrigue me. This is one of those smaller films that while not perfect, does work its way on you. Glenn is perhaps best known as a supporting character, and while he may not be a household name, he’s more than a capable actor. He does fine work here in the title role. Chris Coy also turns in a strong performance as well. It might not be a gore-feast that some are expecting, but instead offers a quieter, character study with the tension slowly building.
The film begins as we learn that the killer chooses women as his prey and buries them alive. Glenn plays Francis Allen Visser and is brought in and questioned for his crimes, but released due to lack of evidence. We then flash forward to 20 years and see that he’s now a barber in a small town. He has one other young, but smart-alecky employee. Visser now goes by the name of Eugene Van Wingerdt. He seems to be routine and reserved. It’s clear that he doesn’t want to draw much attention to himself. It’s not long before a man named John McCormack (Chris Coy) shows up. It’s clear he’s after Eugene, but we’re not sure why at first. One of the joys of the film is seeing how it all unfolds. It raises many questions such as, why is John looking for Visser, is Visser (Eugene) really at fault, or was he wrongly accused? Several more questions arose, but they’re best left for the viewer to see and try to sort out. Fortunately, the film keeps things on track and builds towards a satisfying conclusion. Several moments did make me think what was going on, but it never becomes overly confusing. It also helps that I at least cared about the outcome in some capacity. The film does have a few stumbles along the way. There’s a small subplot with Eugene’s employee at the barber shop and a few other elements, but they don’t harm the film in a big way. It might be a film that benefits from a second viewing where we can study the character of Eugene further and see why he acts the way he does.
Video: How’s it look?
The film might not be a major release, but the transfer still satisfies. Colors were always nice and smooth and the print used displayed no major issues. The film (much like its small town setting) is very simple and almost old fashioned in a way. It might not be the most visually appealing film, but the transfer presents it accurately. The image is AVC encoded with a 2.39:1 ratio.
Audio: How’s it sound?
We get a DTS HD track that is serviceable, but nothing groundbreaking. I don’t mean that in a negative way since the film isn’t really action packed. It does still do justice. The rears kick in when needed and vocals were always clear and natural sounding.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Deleted Scenes – These include deleted and extended scenes. None of them were essential to the final film.
- Alternate Ending – Nothing drastic here, but a few added shots and a slight alteration to one sequence. Nothing is changed as far as the characters and their fate.
- Theatrical Trailer
The Bottom Line
I quite enjoyed this film. I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect, but it held my interest throughout. It has an intriguing story and led by a small group of characters all well played by the respective actor. Recommended.
