Podcast Summary: Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present – Deep Cuts Horror Hit List #15: “Barbarian”
Date: October 17, 2025
Hosts: Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes
Podcast: Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present (iHeartPodcasts)
Episode Theme: Spotlight on the film “Barbarian” (#15 on their Halloween Horror Hit List)
Episode Overview
In this lively episode, Amy and T.J. continue their countdown to Halloween, highlighting hidden-gem horror films. This installment focuses on the 2022 film “Barbarian” – a movie that quickly soared into their list of all-time favorites. They dissect what makes it special, discuss its unconventional choices, examine the audience and critical responses, and recommend pairings for a frighteningly fun movie night.
Episode Structure & Key Discussion Points
1. Introduction & Movie Selection (03:40–05:24)
- “Barbarian” is revealed as their #15 pick for Halloween.
- Released in 2022, directed by Zach Cregger, starring Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, and Justin Long.
- Premise: Young woman books an Airbnb for a job interview in Detroit, only to find the place double-booked with a stranger.
2. The Title & Premise (04:15–05:24)
- Amy: Unsure how the title “Barbarian” fits, but that adds intrigue.
- T.J.: Teases that the uncertainty is part of the movie’s fun.
3. The Suspension of Logic in Horror (05:24–07:38)
- Horror Trope Talk: Hosts joke about the necessity of bad decisions and lack of technology for horror to happen.
- Quote [06:26]:
T.J.: “That’s the joy of a horror movie. If you don’t get that already... That’s the whole point.” - Audience critics of “Barbarian” focus on characters’ bad decisions — hosts defend this as classic horror DNA.
4. Cast and Crew Appreciation (08:10–10:14)
- Big praise for: Georgina Campbell (called the new “final girl” and “horror queen”), Bill Skarsgård (“charming, a little quirky”), Justin Long, Matthew Patrick Davis.
- Director: Zach Cregger lauded, also directed “Weapons” and “Companion” (high Rotten Tomatoes scores).
- Noting that repeat collaborations (à la M. Night Shyamalan with actors) work especially well in horror.
5. Representation & Genre Tropes (10:14–11:22)
- Noted that Georgina Campbell, a Black woman, plays the lead. T.J. jokes that “black folks are yelling at the screen like, no way we would do that thing” — fresh take for the genre.
6. Reception: Critics vs. Audience Split (11:32–14:08)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 92% critic score, 70% audience score.
- Hosts dig into why some viewers didn’t like it — mainly frustration with unpredictable narrative and characters’ choices.
- Quote [11:12]:
Amy: “All of the critics agree with you... the only people who found any sort of flaw with this movie were people who obviously don’t understand how horror movies work.” - Comparison to “Star Wars”:
- Some audience members disliked that evil gets a backstory or “humanity.”
- T.J. [14:08]: Draws an analogy to Darth Vader’s arc in Star Wars — the idea that understanding the villain’s humanity complicates simple narratives.
7. Critical Praise: Notable Reviews (15:14–18:48)
- Read several positive critic blurbs:
- “Inventive and unpredictable with a nervy visual style that takes note of the lurking evil beneath the banality of its domestic space.” — Amy [16:04]
- “A twisted, sadistic, hilarious, bonkers and downright insane movie.” — Amy [16:37]
- “If you like intense, incredibly stressful horror films, this is right up your alley.” — Amy [17:14]
- “Many times where I laughed in delight… I was smiling ear to ear at the end of the film.” — Amy [18:24]
- Praise for the film’s ability to balance tension, unpredictability, and even humor.
8. Audience Reactions: Positive and Hilarious Negative (25:41–27:55)
- Positive:
- “Nothing ever really scares me. But this one. I can’t even walk in the house in the dark now.” — [25:41]
- Hilarious Negative:
- Complaints about being “scammed” by positive reviews, and annoyance at the protagonist’s “absolutely nothing but ignoring common sense.”
- T.J. & Amy: Gleefully defend the need for bad decisions in horror — provide specific examples from classics like “The Omen,” “Friday the 13th,” “The Exorcist.” [26:31–27:40]
9. Film’s Unique Qualities (27:47–29:54)
- Incredible acting and unpredictable plot twists.
- The film keeps the audience guessing about the real villain for much of the runtime.
- Justin Long: Takes on a role with multiple twists, contributing to the film’s unpredictability.
10. Who It’s For / Not For (29:00–30:23)
- For:
- Fans of highly-acted, suspenseful, twist-driven horror.
- “If you like creepy, suspenseful and scary movies with innovative storytelling that takes you for a ride, enjoy. You will love it.” — Amy [29:54]
- Not for:
- Anyone unable to suspend disbelief over character decisions.
- “If you need it to make sense, you probably don’t like horror movies anyway.” — Amy [30:23]
11. Food & Drink Pairing (30:33–31:54)
- Wine: Referencing a bottle shared in a key scene — “Want to share a bottle of wine with the person you have sitting next to you.”
- Popcorn flick: Best enjoyed in a group, for the communal fun of collective jump scares and yelling at the screen.
12. Streaming Availability and Final Thoughts (31:54–33:42)
- Streaming: Available on Hulu and Disney.
- Group Fun: “Lots of jump scares and creepy opinion-inducing moments.” — Amy [31:54]
- Strong Endorsement: One of their all-time favorites.
- Preview: Tease for next episode — a foreign film with “some of the best death scenes we’ve ever seen” and a “campy” tone.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- T.J. [06:26]: “That’s the joy of a horror movie. If you don’t get that already... That’s the whole point.”
- Amy [07:46]: “If you are bothered by people making bad decisions in a horror movie, this movie is over in 12 minutes.”
- T.J. [14:08]: “Star Wars came out in 1977... for all those years Darth Vader is just a bad dude... and then we find out he did all this because he was trying to save the woman he loved. When that came together, I’m like, oh my God...”
- Amy [15:14]: “Cool when we can try to understand evil, man.”
- Amy [17:14]: “If you like intense, incredibly stressful horror films, this is right up your alley.”
- Amy [18:24]: “When I say that I enjoyed this movie, I mean that I had many times where I laughed in delight about the writing, the acting and the direction. I was smiling ear to ear at the end of the film.”
- Audience Review [25:41]: “Nothing ever really scares me. But this one. I can’t even walk in the house in the dark now.”
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 03:40: Introduction of “Barbarian” as #15 pick
- 05:24: Discussion of horror movie tropes (bad decisions, technology issues)
- 08:10: Cast & director notes; box office info
- 11:32: Rotten Tomatoes & reception discussion
- 14:08: Star Wars analogy for humanizing evil
- 16:04–18:24: Reading & discussion of critical reviews
- 25:41: Positive audience review
- 25:53: Hilarious negative audience review & hosts' commentary
- 27:47: Why it made their list
- 29:00–30:23: Who the film is and isn’t for
- 30:33–31:54: Food & drink pairing suggestions
- 31:54–33:42: Group viewing fun, streaming info, and preview of next episode
Conclusion
Amy and T.J. make a passionate, insightful, and often humorous case for “Barbarian” as a standout horror experience. They defend the movie’s bold narrative swings and its embrace of horror tropes, champion the performances (especially Georgina Campbell and Bill Skarsgård), and stress that horror’s real joy lies in unexpected turns and communal reactions. Whether you’re a hardcore scary movie fan or just want a wild, unpredictable ride, their enthusiasm makes clear: “Barbarian” deserves a spot on your Halloween queue.