Here Before

Here Before is a mind-bending 2021 psychological thriller, starring Andrea Riseborough, Jonjo O'Neill, and Niamh Dornan. Directed by Stacey Gregg and set in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the film lays a captivating suspenseful plot where reality intermingles with inexplicable occurrences to leave audiences precariously balancing its edges.

Andrea Riseborough, a renowned actress known for her role in 'Birdman', 'Oblivion', and 'Mandy', delivers an engaging performance as Laura, the main character. Laura is a middle-aged woman, wife, and mother, living an unexceptional suburban life. However, woven in her present is a sorrowful past marked by the death of her young daughter, Josie.

The enigma of Here Before unfolds with the arrival of a new family, the Bells in the neighbourhood. Megan Bell, the young daughter, is portrayed convincingly by young Niamh Dornan, who captures attention with her eerily familiar manners and peculiar knowledge about Josie's life. Her strange behaviour stirs unease and causes stirring emotions within Laura, sparking curiosity, and rousing old memories and guilt.

Jojo O'Neill embraces the role of the amiable yet complex Brendan Bell, Megan's father. Brendan's character adds a layer of grounded vulnerability to the narrative, the depiction of a father trying to shield his daughter from the nebulous circumstances surrounding them.

The story grows steadily darker as Laura constructs an unsettling association between Megan and the deceased Josie. As the boundary between logic and belief blurs, Laura's fascination starts to intensify into an obsession. Her obsession shows strains on her relationship with her husband, Brendon (played by Martin McCann), and her son, Tadhg (played by Lewis McAskie).

Shot largely in and around the suburbs, the film uses its location as a powerful tool, crafting an intense sense of normality that makes the strange and supernatural elements even more chilling. The cinematography resonates with Riseborough's brilliant performance, beautifully capturing Laura's emotional turmoil and psychological distress. There are subtle hints of thriller/horror tropes, adding a touch of eeriness and uncertainty to the narrative but the fabric of the film firmly remains a psychological thriller.

The heart and soul of Here Before lie in its exploration of grief and loss through the lens of a mother. It presents a harrowing account of how a parent grapples with the tragedy of losing a child while attempting to move forward. Laura’s character takes us on a journey of motherly love and major loss, addiction and redemption, and how it can push one to question their sanity.

What sets this film apart is how effectively it exploits ambiguity, making viewers oscillate between rational reasoning and the possibility of the supernatural. Writer-director Stacey Gregg’s first feature illustrates a thoughtful and pristine narrative journey that hovers between creepy and sympathetic, never fully committing to one or the other.

Despite the eerie atmosphere, Here Before isn't necessarily going for outright horror. Instead, it walks a delicate line between an intense psychological thriller and a study of the haunting nature of grief and loss that deeply affects everyday life. Riseborough's portrayal of Laura is specifically worth mentioning as it adds multi-dimensionality and depth to the character, making Laura's struggles and predicaments relatable to the audience. The rest of the cast, especially Niamh Dornan, also fit naturally within the intense and brooding atmosphere of the story.

While the movie excels in many aspects, the suspenseful aura of intrigue is what holds the audience captive until the very end. Every moment that passes in the storyline urges viewers to decipher the mystery shrouding the narrative. Until the end, the audience is left questioning and guessing, only to be met with an unpredictable resolution.

Hauntingly beautiful, Here Before tells an immersive tale of love, loss, and obsession, making it a must-watch for film lovers who enjoy psychological thrillers with an emotional depth. It is an exquisite film that effortlessly combines mystery and darkness, creating an atmosphere of uneasiness that lingers even after the credits roll, making the audience question their perception of reality and truth.