Horror film “Barbarian,” produced by BoulderLight Pictures, has been graded using DaVinci Resolve Studio. The software was employed by Sam Daley of Light Iron to interpret cinematographer Zach Kuperstein’s visuals into the final look of the movie.
Collaborative Process
Daley and Kuperstein have previously worked together on films like “The Eyes of My Mother” and “The Vigil,” which helped prepare Daley for the style preferred by Kuperstein. Daley provided several visual interpretations to director Zach Cregger, ultimately settling on a more traditional look that avoids overtly signaling the horror genre through color grading.
Technical Challenges
The film features sequences shot in dimly lit underground spaces and scenes illuminated only by smartphone flashlights. Daley graded these shots to ensure actors remained visible while maintaining the claustrophobic feel. For instance, he allowed some highlights from flashlights to clip, simulating the human eye’s struggle to see in low light.
Unique Grading Techniques
Daley utilized various OFX plugins in DaVinci Resolve Studio for unique effects. He layered film grain using two parallel nodes, one simulating film negative grain and the other simulating film print grain. For scenes set in the early 1980s, he used video noise within the analog damage plugin along with dehaze to achieve a crisp look. In brief current-time period sequences featuring VHS footage, Daley again employed video noise to subtly link story elements.
Challenging Shots
One of the most challenging shots involved a drone over the Pacific Coast Highway. Starting with a view into the sun and moving through highlights reflecting on the ocean before ending on a backlit convertible, Daley used dynamic exposure adjustments to make the shot feel seamless. He also added dehaze to enhance saturation and detail.
“Barbarian” is now available for streaming on HBO Max.