A closer look at ‘Before’: Atmosphere over substance

Apple TV+’s latest entry into the world of thrillers, ‘Before,’ promises to deliver an atmospheric experience, but does it live up to the hype?

Mood over momentum

At first glance, ‘Before’ captivates with its moody and eerie ambiance, reminiscent of a fog-shrouded swamp that quietly pulls you in. This 10-part series presents half-hour episodes, several clocking in under 25 minutes. However, beneath this dark allure lies a narrative beast that struggles to find its footing, often falling into the quagmire of repeated setups and lackluster payoff.

The show, crafted by creator Sarah Thorp, sees Billy Crystal in the lead role, making his first series regular appearance since 2015. Crystal plays Eli Adler, a child psychologist coping with the heart-wrenching death of his wife, Lynn, played by Judith Light. Eli’s grief is abruptly shattered by Noah, an 8-year-old boy portrayed by newcomer Jacobi Jupe. Noah’s uncanny drawings and hallucinatory experiences set the stage for the unfolding mystery.

Eli’s descending spiral

The performance by Crystal as Eli spans an emotional spectrum, but his trademark wry cynicism appears only in brief flashes. These moments of humor and skepticism make way for a growing hysteria fueled by Eli’s new reality. Scenes drip with tension and water — the latter being a recurrent motif that evokes not only the bathtub in which Lynn died but also the creeping sense of Eli’s own psychological unraveling.

Eli’s professional composure is increasingly tested by Noah’s cryptic behavior. The boy’s terrifying drawings and inexplicable knowledge about Lynn’s past plunge Eli into a state of utter perplexity and agitation. Despite these potential hooks, the narrative often repeats itself, robbing the series of the dynamism that a psychological thriller typically requires.

Repetition and performances

The cast’s performances are unfortunately marred by the show’s repetitive nature. Jupe, as Noah, does impressively well for a young actor, but his role is limited to a narrow range of intense emotions — hallucinations, fear, and freak-outs form his character’s feedback loop. Judith Light and Rosie Perez, playing Noah’s foster mother Denise, bring much-needed gravitas to the screen, but are held back by the storyline’s limited scope for their characters.

Equally underused is Ava Lalezarzadeh’s Cleo, Eli’s assistant, who serves more to deliver expository dialogue rather than evolve as a character. The dynamic between Eli and the women around him remains under-explored, another missed opportunity for the show to deepen its narrative layers.

Drip, drip, drip… of suspense

As Eli spends time with Noah, the line between reality and hallucination blurs. The sound of dripping water becomes a recurring, almost torturous motif, symbolizing the pacing issues that plague the series. The show seems to stall in anticipation of revelations that arrive sporadically and with insufficient buildup.

Noah speaking Dutch during a traumatic episode is an example of a plot point that receives cursory attention before being shelved. Similarly, Eli’s sudden hypothesis linking Noah’s condition to Lynn’s ex-boyfriend feels like an addendum rather than a thread in the story’s fabric. Such inconsistencies diminish the overall impact, leaving viewers to piece together a fragmented narrative without satisfying resolutions.

Stretching narratives thin

Comparing ‘Before’ to other miniseries, like Apple’s ‘Disclaimer,’ highlights an industry trend: stretching film-length stories over an entire season. However, ‘Before’ struggles more with this format, leading to moments that feel more like filler than progression.

Eli’s potential as a modern-day Dana Scully, skeptical yet intrigued by the supernatural elements around him, is underexplored. Similarly, his strained relationship with his adult daughter Barbara, played by Maria Dizzia, is touched upon but not deeply investigated. The climax, lacking a substantial resolution, leaves more questions than answers, hinting at missed narrative avenues that could have enriched the series.

Final thoughts

While ‘Before’ excels at crafting an eerie atmosphere, it often flounders with its storytelling. The intriguing premise set up by Thorp and executed through Crystal’s earnest performance doesn’t fully capitalize on the potential of blending grief, mystery, and the supernatural. Despite its moments of brilliance, the series ultimately leads its audience through a murky maze with few illuminating beacons.

The first two episodes of ‘Before’ are available to stream on Apple TV+, with new episodes releasing weekly on Fridays.

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