Andrea Riseborough is without a doubt one of the most severely underrated and fascinating actresses working today. Her extensive body of work, which spans from indie gems like Possessor and Nancy to TV dramas such as ZeroZeroZero and Waco, consistently showcases her versatility and chameleon-like presence à la Tilda Swinton and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. To the surprise of absolutely no one, Riseborough gives another fantastic performance in Here Before, which has proven once again that she is the queen of thrillers.
In Here Before, writer-director Stacey Gregg’s horror-tinted psychological thriller, Riseborough plays Laura, a grieving mother who becomes captivated by Megan (Niamh Dornan), the 10-year old daughter of her family’s new next door neighbors, Marie (Eileen O’Higgins) and Chris (Martin McCann). When picking her son Tadhg (Lewis McAskie) up from school one day, Laura spots Megan waiting for her mom, who has yet to appear, and offers to give her a ride home. Laura feels an immediate connection to the girl, who fills the empty void of Laura’s deceased daughter, Josie, and in turn receives maternal affection from her. As the bond between the two grows, much to the dismay of Laura’s husband Brandon (Jonjo O’Neill) and Tadhg, a growing tension begins to develop as nightmarish details come to light.
As the film progresses, the young girl’s strange knowledge of certain details about Laura leads her to suspect that she is, somehow, a reincarnation of Josie. Megan starts to reveal that she has been to the same places as Josie before, such as the playground; makes cryptic statements such as “that’s where I was buried”, pointing out the graveyard where Josie is; and details the fatal car accident that took Josie’s life. Even more creepy, Megan’s name tag is crossed out above her backpack hook and replaced with Josie’s name, and Laura discovers that Megan has written in her journal that Tadhg is her brother. All of these details that hint toward a connection to Josie sends Laura’s mental and emotional states into a downward spiral. Having to relive the tragic experience that her family has attempted to heal from during the past few years, Laura begins to question her sanity as these painful memories are stirred up. As she slowly unravels while searching for answers to these bizarre supernatural occurrences, Laura’s family begins to fracture, culminating with a revelation that sends her over the edge.
Gregg, in her feature debut, confidently directs the film as she formulates a distorting and gradually uncomfortable environment through the subtle balance of thriller and drama elements. One of the film’s strongest elements is Gregg’s thoughtful script, which she uses to orchestrate the harrowing tone and make us question the events unfolding. While Riseborough gives an emotional and thrilling performance, the rest of the ensemble is composed of actors who give amazing performances as well, especially Dornan, who shines as the suspicious and creepy child. While never crossing the threshold into becoming a horror film, Adam Janota Bzowski’s eerie score accentuates the tension that runs high throughout, and paired with the captivating cinematography of suburban Ireland by Chloë Thomson, helps create an overall unsettling and gloomy atmosphere.
At its core, Here Before is a haunting tale of loss and a thoughtful exploration of grief that is anchored by Riseborough’s top-tier central performance. Tightly packed within an 83-minute runtime, Here Before is an atmospheric slowburn thriller that never overstays its welcome. Every unpredictable moment will keep you guessing until you reach the clever twist that will have you on the edge of your seat.
