Before review: An abundance of horror clichés cloud a compelling mystery

As a seasoned gamer who’s seen his fair share of twists and turns in video games, I must say that “Before” feels like a well-crafted narrative with an intriguing premise. The performances are strong, and the mystery surrounding Eli Adler’s wife Lynn is enough to keep me engaged for now.

The psychological thriller series “Before,” hailing from Apple TV+, marks a departure for Billy Crystal as he delves into a more somber role, deviating from his usual comedic characters. Created by Sarah Thorp, this 10-episode series premiered with its initial two episodes, followed by weekly releases thereafter. This review is based on the first episodes and the implications they hold for the future episodes to come.

The story centers on Crystal’s character, Dr. Eli Adler, a child psychiatrist struggling with grief following the apparent suicide of his wife Lynn (played by Judith Light). However, the opening episodes suggest that there may be more to Lynn’s death than initially meets the eye, as Eli remains tight-lipped about the matter. He’s reluctant to discuss Lynn with anyone and even resorts to deceiving his therapist about his emotions and coping mechanisms.

Introducing Noah (Jacobi Jupe), a troubled foster child who frequently sneaks out at night to visit Eli’s house. There’s a mysterious bond between these two that will be delved into throughout the series. Consequently, it’s not too shocking when Eli’s coworker gives him a case concerning a youngster, and lo and behold, it’s… Noah.

It’s when we encounter Noah’s foster parent, Denise (Rosie Perez), and discover his challenging past, having lived in five different foster homes before finding a home with Denise, who is herself a new foster parent. There seems to be a hint that Denise might have her own secrets, just like the other characters on the show.

Initially, the series titled “Before” offers an intriguing premiere, yet I’m uncertain if its appeal will be sufficient to distinguish it in a competitive television landscape. The narrative revolving around a widower tormented by his deceased wife and a problematic teenager character are themes we’ve encountered frequently before. It remains unclear whether “Before” possesses a distinct enough twist to surpass its counterparts in the genre.

In the initial two episodes, there’s an apparent recurring issue: the series often relies excessively on dream sequences. Similar to Apple TV+’s earlier release this year, Presumed Innocent, a significant number of intriguing and eerie scenes turn out to be fictional.

Previously, Noah experienced an illusion where dark water seemed to gather in room corners, eventually transforming into thick, wriggling black tendrils akin to earthworms. Upon observing these rope-like apparitions touching people, he responded aggressively, implying that he was attempting to protect the affected individual from the sludge-like tendrils.

However, instead of focusing on why a child stabs a pencil into someone’s neck, what matters most is preventing such behavior from happening again. Similarly, Eli experiences disturbing dreams filled with gruesome imagery, often depicting his broken body at the bottom of an empty pool – a symbolic reference to water, which links back to Lynn who tragically passed away in a bathtub.

When we discover that Eli, like many horror genre characters, is a non-verbal child who draws ominous images, it’s difficult not to let out a heavy breath. Despite the familiar tropes, there’s an intriguing allure emerging, gradually surfacing. What exactly happened to Eli’s spouse? What do those unsettling dreams symbolize? Even though the series can seem repetitive at times, the enigma remains captivating and ripe for investigation, and the acting is subtle enough to keep things moving forward.

It’s difficult not to ponder if Apple TV+ may have made an uncommon mistake by releasing this series on a weekly basis instead of all at once. Critics who have watched the entire season comment that “Before” seems more like a full-length film divided into 10 half-hour episodes, suggesting that a binge-release approach might have been better suited for this show.

Before is now streaming on Apple TV+, new episodes release on Fridays.

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2024-10-26 01:25