FilmSnobReviews

Title: Here Before
MPAA Rating: Not Yet Rated
Director: Stacey Gregg
Starring: Andrea Riseborough, Eileen O’Higgins, Martin McCann
Runtime: 1 hr 23 mins

What It Is: Laura (Riseborough) is a grieving mother who’s lost her daughter. She begins to believe that her neighbor’s daughter is the reincarnation of her deceased offspring. As she begins to speak with the girl her thoughts turn to obsession and both her husband and the girl’s parents are concerned. Perhaps they should be as Laura is not exactly stable in her approach to this entire situation. As the situation starts to dismantle so does Laura.

What We Think: Andrea Riseborough continues to be utterly fantastic in every role she’s given. I think, unfortunately, that some of the material isn’t up to the performances we have. Gregg slightly loses me, and I think she’ll lose the audience about halfway through. The third act gains some of the lost steam back but at that point, it sadly isn’t enough to satisfy the viewer. It is a beautifully shot picture. One that looks better than it comes off. It really wants the mystery to stay mysterious and it is just a little bit too easy for audiences to unravel.

Our Grade: B-, I can for sure recommend this, especially for people who are fans of the talented Ms. Riseborough. If you haven’t had a chance to check out our interview check it out HERE. She’s been a talent I’ve been following for quite some time. I really loved some of the things happening here but otherwise, there’s just not enough there to make the dire situations stick. You feel as though there are things left unsaid by the narrative and you’re interested in knowing what those things were…but then the movie just…ends. Still the acting is so strong it doesn’t make that much of a difference how sloppily the rest was put together.