Tom Hanks’ wildest, most absurd comedy is a genius show to watch this Halloween
By Robert Scucci | Published: 2025-10-29 18:06:00 | Source: GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT
Written by Robert Scocchi | Published
Every now and then, I have to remind myself that Tom Hanks wasn’t always the guy. Earlier in his career, he starred in some very strange comedies, and I mean that in the best way possible.
While the nineties Joe vs volcano It’s still my personal favorite from this era, 1989 the Burpswhich I only recently watched for the first time, is an absolute gem. A classic slice of suburban paranoia, Barbs An entire freak show is hidden behind white picket fences and quiet cul-de-sacsand Joe Dante’s own flavor of playful chaos.
Always destined for worship, “Barbs.” He exploits everyone’s secret desire that their neighbors might have something suspicious enough to warrant forming a scattered neighborhood watch to catch them red-handed.
“Bushes aren’t as safe as you think.”
Ray Peterson (Tom Hanks) is bored out of his skull while on vacation from work, so he does what any restless suburbanite with too much time on his hands does: he starts obsessing over the people next door. The Clubks are new in town, and they immediately give off the wrong kind of atmosphere. Ray teams up with his neighbors Art (Rick Ducommon), Mark Rumsfeld (Bruce Dern), his wife Bonnie (Wendy Schaal), and their teenage son, Ricky (Corey Feldman), to monitor the situation.
The group first suspects that the Klubeks are disposing of the body of their elderly neighbor Walter (Gail Gordon) in their weekly garbage truck. When that theory fades, Ray’s wife, Carol (Carrie Fisher), takes a more civil approach and invites the Klopks over for dinner. This doesn’t help.
The dinner goes so awkwardly and strangely that it only serves to fuel Ray’s paranoia. Eventually, Ray sneaks into the Klubek house and finds Walter’s belongings, confirming his worst fears: something is terribly wrong here, but he can’t prove what it is.
There goes the neighborhood
What makes “Barbs.” So the fun is the ever-present question of whether Ray is revealing real horror or just inventing one because he can’t handle being bored. Each new “evidence” could be something sinister or something completely mundane. Are the Klubeks burying bodies, or are the neighbors showing concern for the new weirdos on the block? Are Ray’s friends helping him or are they just thrilled that something interesting is happening for once?
“Barbs.” Thrives on uncertainty. You watch Ray unfold as he tries to piece together a puzzle that may or may not be real, and the fun comes from watching everyone commit to the part that’s long beyond reason.
Running barbs
An anxious suburban fever dream with a black humor, the Burps He turns the boredom of the neighborhood into a thrilling conspiracy story powered by paranoia, amateur investigations, and the shared knowledge that something might be wrong behind closed doors. Or maybe Ray just needs to get back to work.
As of this writing, you can stream “Barbs.” Free on Tubi.
(tags for translation) 80s movies
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