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Drama Cult Classic

A summer of sexual taboos and liberation unfolds on Fire Island.

BARBARA

Your duty is to go forth and freak out the world

1970 · 01:37:00 · NR · Drama / Horror / Romance · IMDB TMDB

A teen joins friends on Fire Island for summer where they have various sexual encounters. She seduces her brother then they try to influence their parents' views.

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Quick Answer
What is Barbara about?

Barbara is a 1970 American drama, horror, and romance film directed by Walter Burns about a teenage girl on Fire Island who explores her sexuality and seduces her brother, then together they attempt to convert their parents to their new lifestyle.

Synopsis

A teenage girl spends the summer on the notorious Fire Island off of New York. She has sex with a variety of people, while the others in her group engage in both straight and gay sex with each other. She succeeds in seducing her brother, then both hatch a plot to try to convert their parents to their newfound “lifestyle”.
Details & Specs
Director
Walter Burns
Writers
Frank Newman, Josef Bush
Release
1970
Runtime
1h 37m
Country
United States of America
Language
English

The SassyFlix Take

Barbara doesn’t just push the envelope—it tears it open and lights it on fire, right on the sandy shores of Fire Island. With taboo-busting themes like incest, open relationships, and every permutation of 1970s sexual liberation you can alphabetize, this one is for the psychotronic-curious. Bring a strong constitution and an even stronger sense of irony.
From the Vault

Not your average summer vacation film—unless your family gatherings really go off the rails.

Why Cult

Fire Island Setting

The story unfolds on the infamous Fire Island, a hotbed for hedonism and uninhibited exploration in the 1970s.

Taboo-Smashing Incest Plot

Barbara seduces her brother and the pair hatch a scheme to sway their parents, taking taboo to its upper limits.

Psychotronic Sexploitation

With graphic nudity, group sex, and a wild spectrum of sexual encounters, this is sexploitation in the psychotronic tradition.

Queer Sexual Liberation

Straight, gay, and everything in between: Barbara's circle explores all orientations, reflecting the era's sexual revolution.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Barbara about? +

Barbara follows a teenage girl on Fire Island as she and her friends engage in various sexual escapades, including with her own brother, culminating in their attempt to convert their parents to a sexually liberated lifestyle.

When was Barbara released? +

Barbara was released in 1970.

Who directed Barbara? +

Barbara was directed by Walter Burns.

How long is Barbara? +

Barbara has a runtime of 97 minutes.

What genre is Barbara? +

Barbara is a drama, horror, and romance film.

Where can I watch Barbara? +

Barbara is available to stream on SassyFlix.