The horror genre lives and dies by its ability to make audiences squirm, jump, and feel genuinely unsettled. When Zach Cregger’s Barbarian hit theatres in 2022, it delivered all three sensations with surgical precision. Behind those perfectly timed scares and mounting dread was editor Joe Murphy, whose meticulous approach to crafting the film’s rhythm transformed a twisted script into one of the year’s most effective horror experiences.

Murphy’s editing philosophy centres on capturing authentic emotional responses—both his own and the audience’s. This instinctive approach to horror editing reveals how the right cuts, pacing, and structural choices can elevate a good scary movie into something truly memorable. His work on Barbarian demonstrates that effective horror editing isn’t just about jump scares; it’s about building sustained tension that crawls under your skin and stays there.

Understanding how Murphy approached Barbarian offers valuable insights into the craft of horror editing and why certain films stick with us long after the credits roll. His method of building around visceral moments while preserving the director’s complete vision created a film that balances shocking surprises with psychological unease.

The Editor’s Cut: Building Around Visceral Moments

Murphy’s initial approach to Barbarian followed a philosophy that many successful editors share: trust your gut reaction. When assembling his first editor’s cut, Murphy paid close attention to moments that sparked emotional or visceral responses—both in himself and what he anticipated from general audiences.

“I kept an eye out for performance moments that sparked an emotional or visceral response in me, and in general,” Murphy explains. This emotional barometer guided his selection process, helping him identify which scenes and beats would form the backbone of the film’s structure.

The editor’s cut serves as the foundation for all subsequent versions, making this initial assembly crucial. Murphy built his first draft around these standout moments, creating a framework that would support the film’s escalating tension. This approach ensures that the most impactful scenes receive proper setup and payoff, rather than getting lost in a chronological assembly of footage.

Preserving Hidden Gems

While focusing on these key emotional moments, Murphy simultaneously maintained what he calls a “separate timeline” for footage that stood out but didn’t immediately fit into the main structure. This organisational method proves essential for horror films, where unconventional or seemingly disconnected moments might later provide crucial atmospheric details.

“Moments I can show the director later that might be valuable or spark an idea,” Murphy notes about this secondary collection. This practice acknowledges that horror films often benefit from unexpected elements that don’t follow traditional narrative logic but contribute to the overall unsettling atmosphere.

In Barbarian, many of the film’s most memorable moments likely emerged from this careful curation of standout footage. The film’s ability to surprise audiences with unexpected tonal shifts and narrative pivots suggests that Murphy’s method of preserving interesting material paid dividends in the final edit.

Showing Everything That Matters

Murphy’s commitment to presenting the director’s complete vision in the editor’s cut reflects a collaborative approach that serves both the creative process and the final product. “Since the editor’s cut is the first draft, I want to ensure I’m showing the director everything they shot and what stood out to me as interesting, honest, and revealing,” he explains.

This comprehensive approach serves multiple purposes in horror filmmaking. Directors shooting horror often capture multiple takes with varying levels of intensity, different reaction timings, and alternative approaches to scares. By including all significant material in the initial cut, Murphy ensures that no potentially effective moment gets overlooked.

The Value of “Interesting, Honest, and Revealing”

Murphy’s criteria—interesting, honest, and revealing—provide a framework for evaluating horror footage that goes beyond simple scare effectiveness. “Interesting” moments might include unexpected character reactions or unusual visual compositions that add texture to the experience. “Honest” performances capture genuine fear, confusion, or vulnerability that audiences can connect with emotionally. “Revealing” scenes provide character insight or story information that deepens the horror’s impact.

Barbarian’s success stems partly from its commitment to character development alongside its scares. The film’s protagonists feel like real people making relatable (if sometimes questionable) decisions, which makes their predicament more frightening. Murphy’s focus on honest and revealing moments likely contributed to this authentic character foundation.

Collaborative Editorial Process

The relationship between editor and director becomes particularly crucial in horror filmmaking, where the difference between effective and ineffective scares often comes down to precise timing and rhythm. Murphy’s method of presenting comprehensive first cuts creates space for collaborative refinement.

By saving potentially valuable material on separate timelines, Murphy provides directors with options during the revision process. A scene that doesn’t work in one context might prove perfect elsewhere, or footage initially dismissed might become essential when the film’s overall tone evolves during editing.

Building Trust Through Transparency

Murphy’s approach of showing directors “everything they shot” builds trust and demonstrates respect for the creative process. Directors can see that their vision is being honoured while benefiting from the editor’s fresh perspective on what works most effectively.

This transparency becomes especially valuable in horror, where directors often have specific intentions for scares that might not translate immediately in the editing room. By presenting the complete picture, Murphy allows directors to see their footage through an editor’s eyes while maintaining creative control over the final direction.

The Art of Horror Pacing

Barbarian’s effectiveness relies heavily on its unpredictable pacing, which keeps audiences off-balance throughout. The film doesn’t follow traditional horror rhythms, instead creating its own internal logic that serves the story’s unique structure.

Murphy’s approach of building around visceral moments naturally supports this kind of unconventional pacing. Rather than forcing footage into predetermined templates, this method allows the material itself to dictate the film’s rhythm. Scenes build tension organically based on their inherent power rather than external pacing formulas.

Respecting Audience Intelligence

Effective horror editing requires understanding audience psychology without underestimating viewer intelligence. Murphy’s focus on emotional authenticity suggests an approach that trusts audiences to engage with complex, layered scares rather than relying solely on cheap shock tactics.

Barbarian rewards this trust by delivering scares that work on multiple levels. Surface-level frights satisfy immediate needs while deeper psychological elements create lasting unease. This layered approach requires editors who understand how different types of scares affect audiences over time.

Technical Craft Serving Creative Vision

While Murphy’s philosophy emphasises emotional response and collaboration, the technical execution of these ideas requires significant skill. Horror editing demands precision timing, careful attention to audio design, and a sophisticated understanding of visual rhythm.

The editor’s role in horror extends beyond simple assembly to include creating subliminal unease through subtle techniques. Small adjustments in cutting rhythm, strategic use of silence, and careful management of visual information all contribute to the overall effect.

Sound and Picture Symbiosis

Horror films rely heavily on the relationship between image and sound, making the editor’s role in coordinating these elements crucial. Murphy’s approach of preserving standout moments likely includes attention to audio elements that enhance scares or build atmosphere.
Barbarian’s sound design contributes significantly to its effectiveness, suggesting close collaboration between Murphy and the film’s audio team. Editors who understand how sound supports visual scares can make more informed decisions about pacing and structure.

Lessons for Aspiring Horror Editors

Murphy’s approach to Barbarian offers several key insights for editors working in horror:
Trust Your Instincts: Emotional and visceral responses provide valuable guidance for identifying effective moments. If something affects you strongly during the editing process, it will likely affect audiences similarly.

Preserve Options: Maintaining separate timelines for interesting but uncommitted footage ensures that valuable material doesn’t get lost. Horror films often benefit from unexpected elements that don’t fit initial structural plans.

Embrace Collaboration: Showing directors comprehensive first cuts builds trust while providing material for creative discussions. The best horror films emerge from collaborative processes that respect both editorial insight and directorial vision.

Focus on Character Truth: Horror works best when audiences care about the characters in danger. Prioritising honest, revealing performances creates the emotional investment that makes scares more effective.

The Lasting Impact of Thoughtful Editing

Barbarian’s success demonstrates how thoughtful editing can elevate horror material beyond simple shock value. Murphy’s approach created a film that works as both immediate entertainment and lasting psychological experience.

The film’s continued relevance in horror discussions reflects the effectiveness of Murphy’s editorial philosophy. By building around genuine emotional moments while preserving the director’s complete vision, he helped create something that resonates with audiences long after viewing.

Horror editing at this level requires both technical skill and a deep understanding of human psychology. Murphy’s work on Barbarian shows how editors can serve both story and audience while maintaining creative integrity. The film stands as a testament to what’s possible when editorial craft meets collaborative vision in service of genuine scares.