Parents' Guide to Barber

Gillen wears years of struggle on his face as P.I. Val Barber, a man juggling a dark investigation with threats from the rich and powerful, family traumas, and his own deep-rooted secrets. Barber pulls from film noir and adds themes around the #MeToo movement, LGBTQ+ rights, and the COVID-19 pandemic to what is otherwise a fairly run-of-the-mill crime thriller. The backdrop is an Ireland that's changing, has changed, will continue to change—much to the chagrin of some of the powerful White men at the heart of the story, who find themselves challenged for their predatory behavior and homophobic views, perhaps for the first time. There's a sense of things closing in around not only them, but also Barber. The locations and sets are filmed in a tense, claustrophobic style that portrays the need for the characters to continually look over their shoulders, whether in the narrow, dimly lit streets or the comfort of their own clinically furnished homes. What lets the movie down is a case that never quite feels central to the plot; clumsy, easily won twists; and an over-the-top score that attempts to add drama that doesn't feel earned. It's dark in subject but feels strangely light of touch. That said, it's entertaining enough to keep viewers hooked, and the supporting cast do a great job of bolstering Gillen's central role. It's also good to see the stereotypical P.I. portrayed as bisexual without that pulling focus from the well-worn trope.