Grief takes a mother to a strange place in Here Before, the feature debut of writer/director Stacey Gregg.
Laura and her family are getting on after they lost a daughter years before, but it’s something they carry with them every day. So maybe it’s not surprising that the arrival of new neighbors rattles Laura. They’re a happy family with their own daughter, one who faintly reminds Laura of the one she lost. Then the girl begins dredging up strange details, and Laura begins to question whether the girl could be own daughter returned to her. Whether true or not, nothing good can come of this scenario.
This is the kind of movie that creeps under your skin, diving deep into very real and very intense pain and giving you no outs for your discomfort. It’s a difficult slow burn to get right, and with Gregg so new to features (she’s done TV work previously), it will be quite a calling card if she pulls it off.
Helping her out in front of the camera is the ever-reliable Andrea Riseborough, who is exactly the kind of performer you want dragging you down this uncomfortable road. Co-starring with her is Jonjo O’Neill, Niamh Dornan, and Eileen O’Higgins.
This may not be the most fun movie, but it sure looks like one that will take you for a ride.
Here Before is directed by Stacey Gregg and stars Andrea Riseborough, Jonjo O’Neill, and Niamh Dornan. It will be released in the US in theaters on February 11th and on VOD on February 15th. For international release dates, click here.
Will you check this one out? Let us know in the comments!
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