Some movies are better than others are getting our attention, or do more. This one came and went in 2021 with little fanfare; I've come across it now by chance. This is unfortunate, as I think many such titles deserve more viewership and recognition than they get, and I'd count this among them. It won't appeal to everyone, of course; 'Here before' maintains a subdued tone across its 80 minutes that lends to a sense of minimal plot progression. That's half right, as this is very much a character-driven drama tightly centered on protagonist Laura, and furthermore, a psychological drama. The movie never achieves any especial height of storytelling height or emotional output, but deliberately so, instead aiming for and succeeding at inculcating quiet, haunted airs. This is reflected in various aspects, not least in Adam Janota Bzowski's somber, slightly discordant score, and those instances of its emphatic absence. Most noteworthy of all may be Andrea Riseborough's performance in the lead role, distinctly pained and fraught with complicated emotions - it's a complex role, and she navigates it with all the nuanced skill we know she possesses. This is a pleasure to watch for her alone.
Tension and mystery grow in kind as the narrative progresses, and while the feature maintains a broadly hushed sensibility, it gradually becomes more outright chilling in some ways as events come to a head. My commendations to filmmaker Stacey Gregg; there's a fierce intelligence to her direction and writing that bit by bit makes 'Here before' softly captivating, even as it takes its good time to come together. I don't think this is altogether perfect; I can't quite place my finger on the issue, but it feels like the connective threads are only just keeping the narrative stitched together, like it's at risk of losing cohesion with one false move. Something just doesn't entirely sit right with me - though, seeing as I can't particularly identify what, I can hardly hold it against Gregg, yeah? And in all other ways this is solid - Brian Philip Davis' editing, Chloë Thomson's cinematography, and so on; the rest of the cast is swell, too. By all means, though, it's Riseborough and Gregg's contributions that do the most to make this what it is, and they are to be congratulated.
I don't think it's flawless, nor 100% essential. I'm pleased at how well made it is, though, and ultimately engrossing. Clocking in at such a relatively small runtime, this is most recommendable to fans of those involved or of psychological thrillers, but even for general audiences it will surely hold some sway. Don't feel like you need to go out of your way for it, but if you have the chance to watch 'Here before,' this is well worth one's time.
Tension and mystery grow in kind as the narrative progresses, and while the feature maintains a broadly hushed sensibility, it gradually becomes more outright chilling in some ways as events come to a head. My commendations to filmmaker Stacey Gregg; there's a fierce intelligence to her direction and writing that bit by bit makes 'Here before' softly captivating, even as it takes its good time to come together. I don't think this is altogether perfect; I can't quite place my finger on the issue, but it feels like the connective threads are only just keeping the narrative stitched together, like it's at risk of losing cohesion with one false move. Something just doesn't entirely sit right with me - though, seeing as I can't particularly identify what, I can hardly hold it against Gregg, yeah? And in all other ways this is solid - Brian Philip Davis' editing, Chloë Thomson's cinematography, and so on; the rest of the cast is swell, too. By all means, though, it's Riseborough and Gregg's contributions that do the most to make this what it is, and they are to be congratulated.
I don't think it's flawless, nor 100% essential. I'm pleased at how well made it is, though, and ultimately engrossing. Clocking in at such a relatively small runtime, this is most recommendable to fans of those involved or of psychological thrillers, but even for general audiences it will surely hold some sway. Don't feel like you need to go out of your way for it, but if you have the chance to watch 'Here before,' this is well worth one's time.