Here Before: Film Review
I will watch anything starring Andrea Riseborough because I think she’s a terrific actress who seems to fly under the radar, even though she’s been in some relatively big movies.
Right now, she can be seen in Stacey Gregg‘s directorial debut, the psychological thriller Here Before. Set in Northern Ireland, the film follows Laura, who becomes obsessed with her new neighbours’ daughter Megan (Niamh Dornan) after her family moves in next door. Laura notices parallels between Megan and her own daughter Josie, who died several years before, and becomes convinced they are the same person.
Laura latches onto this reincarnation idea with a firm grip and eventually, everyone starts to believe she’s losing the plot. Is she having some sort of mental breakdown or is something supernatural going on? That’s the big question here. Riseborough navigates this ambiguity very well. Her emotionally complex performance is subtle when the grief-stricken mum role could have easily been overdone.
She is supported by Jonjo O’Neill and Lewis McAskie as her husband and son, who become increasingly concerned and frustrated with Laura’s obsession. There’s also Eileen O’Higgins as Megan’s mum Marie, who has to get assertive and intervene to protect her daughter, while newcomer Dornan is a little bit weird and creepy as the object of Laura’s obsession. There’s something not quite right with Megan and it’s unnerving.
Gregg achieves an unsettling atmosphere towards the latter half of the brisk film (only 83 minutes) and drops a twist at the end I didn’t see coming. It wasn’t a complete success though – it was interesting and took me by surprise but it didn’t explain everything and I was left with more questions. The film as a whole is rather understated and not enough happened to really keep me engaged.
Here Before is an assured debut from Gregg with a strong performance from Riseborough – I just wanted more to happen.
In cinemas and on Curzon Home Cinema from Friday 18th February