InHere Before , Stacey Gregg ’s feature writing and directorial debut , heartbreak and unhealthful attachments are at the head . Set in a small townsfolk in Northern Ireland , the cast , led by the prominent Andrea Riseborough , is the flick ’s greatest strong point . The disruptive relationship are at the core of a story that is heavily reliant on and tether to the past .   There ’s a lot to like in this engaging and formidable drama , but the closing curtain does n’t come together to redeem on an intriguing and chilling first one-half .

Here Beforefollows Laura ( Riseborough ) , who becomes attach to Megan ( Niamh Dornan ) , a clever ten - twelvemonth - previous girl who has recently moved in next room access with her mother Marie ( Eileen O’Higgins ) and stepdad ( Martin McCann ) . Laura set about give Megan ride home and invent a disconcerting bond with her , one that principally stanch from Megan ’s similarities to Josie , the daughter Laura and hubby Brendan ( Jonjo O’Neill ) lost year prior . As the account develop , Laura becomes more convinced that Megan is transfer Josie . Are they the same person ? Is this Josie ’s ghost ? The dyad ’s relationship is a cause for tension between Laura , her syndicate , and Marie , who is weirded out and worried by Laura ’s conduct and Megan ’s growing warmheartedness of her .

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Here Beforehas a rattling setup . The plot is unsettling , becoming even more so as everything unravels . The story is many-sided and it ’s easy to realise why Laura feel close-fitting to Megan , who easy lead off to transubstantiate into Josie , drawing picture that see Laura as a stand - in for her female parent . These changes seem to derive from Megan ’s own desire for an ideal household , which she finds with Laura , Brendan , and their son Tadgh . However , as the film moves onward , there are questions regarding whether Megan is , in fact , Josie ’s ghost . Or , perhaps Josie has been reincarnated into a young body , which would explain why Megan remembers home and second that never happened to her — Brendan vocalizing , Laura making a smiley look out of ketchup , etc .

It ’s a mystery that gets a lot of aid , albeit one that entirely unravels in the final turn . As it turn out , the film is n’t concerned in allow any answers to the questions it mystify , making the finale an underwhelming and disappointing tight to what was a deep redoubtable and intriguing concept and buildup . Here Beforedoes a foreign heel turn , introduce a new subplot in the film ’s net second , one that is surely meant to explain but actually undermines the entire story or else . It ’s a shame , too , since Gregg give the audience an outstandingly resonant and electrify first one-half . The plastic film is plain building towards something — a major reveal , a thrilling confrontation , a disturbing twisting peradventure — but Gregg loses the story three - quarters of the way through and never recovers it .

The finish undo a muckle of the growing that was already build , mainly between Laura and Megan and , by extension , Laura and Marie , whose grow resentment towards each other changed course . While the photographic film quiver in its write up , it ’s uplifted by its prodigious cast . Riseborough ’s performance is a particular standout . Her enactment of Laura is laced with anguish , grief , despair , and a need for link . For all intents and purposes , Laura has moved on from her girl ’s death , but the lingering , longing , and still looks from Riseborough tell an altogether different account . The actress masterfully conveys and balances the sadness , Leslie Townes Hope , and ravel out emotions as Laura works to understand and be heard , often brush away by her husband as he tells her to babble to someone but because he himself ca n’t conduct .

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Here Beforeis fair dark , cut into deeply into Laura ’s relationship with Megan . It starts harmlessly enough before becoming wrench and perturbed . The loss of a shaver weighs hard on the film and is ultimately the root of Laura ’s attitude and actions . While that geographic expedition is interesting enough on its own , it ’s not enough to keep up the story , especially one that offers quite a few enigma that do n’t pan out successfully . To be sure , the movie has a sight of potential difference and would have sense far more complete if Gregg had engage with the plot togs so seamlessly spring up in the first half .

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Here Beforehad its North American premiere during the SXSW Film Festival on March 17 , 2021 . The film is 83 minutes long and is not yet rated .

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Here Before is a psychological thriller conduct by Stacey Gregg . The celluloid stars Andrea Riseborough as Laura , a grieving mother whose uneventful life is unsettled by the comer of new neighbor and their untried daughter , who bear an uncanny resemblance to Laura ’s late daughter . The film explores melodic theme of grief , memory , and the supernatural , gradually construct suspense as Laura becomes increasingly haunt with the young lady .

Laura looks out the car window as it rains in Here Before