There are two things I never thought I would say in the same sentence: “Billy Crystal stars in Before, an Eli Roth-produced psychological horror thriller.” While it’s refreshing to see Apple TV+ stream something more mainstream instead of the usual prestige projects that no one watches, this is a misstep in almost every way.
The series is poorly written, with disjointed scenes and weak tropes already filled with ’80s and ’90s thriller clichés. And when the story starts to trudge along, which is often, it throws in an inexplicable, dreamlike jump-scare cut that does nothing but cause headaches and a touch of vertigo. It’s only a matter of time Before the series sparks acute conversion boredom household-wide.
Apple TV+’s Before Season 1 Review and Synopsis
Crystal plays Eli, a well-respected child psychologist and widower who recently lost his wife, Lynn (Emmy and Tony Award winner Judith Light), to cancer. His daughter, Barbara (Maria Dizzia from My Old Ass), struggles with depression and anxiety. To make matters worse, Eli also encounters a pushy real estate agent (Miriam Shor) trying to sell his valuable brownstone.
However, things turn mysterious when a young boy, Noah (newcomer Jacobi Jupe), scratches his fingers against Eli’s front door and later breaks into his home. Soon, Eli begins drawing unsettling connections between Noah’s actions and haunting memories of his past. The only question is how far Eli will go to uncover the truth.
Billy Crystal is Miscast in the Apple TV+ Series Before
Before is from creator Sarah Thorp (The Bounty Hunter), whose first mistake was a bit of stunt, by miscasting legendary funny man Billy Crystal in the lead role. Now, Crystal also is listed as the first executive producer, so she may not have a choice in the matter. The fact is the role, no matter the quality, demands a nuance and complexity along with subtle emotional depth.
The other matter is, Crystal has a muscle memory delivery, even with the most serious of lines, cannot help but try to be funny. Admittingly, as the episodes progress, Crystal slowly gets more comfortable in the role. Young Jacobi Jupe creates a good mount of tension and fear in the role, easily out acting Crystal and then some.
Is Apple TV+’s Before Season 1 Worth Watching?
However, Before is not worth watching because of the predictable and stagnant story. It’s frustrating watching veterans like Hope Davis and Rosie Perez stuck in such thankless roles whose purpose it to voice objections only to write in deus ex machina resolutions. How medical profressionals would let Eli act like a manianc for insurance purposes alone, is headscratching.
The series has some interesting special effects, using de-aging techniques on Crystal and Light in flashbacks, which feels a bit like watching an ’80s Soapdish and Who’s the Boss crossover. While these moments add context to the story, the result is somewhat telegraphed and predictable. Thorpe and Audrey Rosenburg’s scripts stretch the material beyond its limits.
Before milks any goodwill by testing the audience’s patience. There is simply no need for ten episodes, when the story could have easily been wrapped up in 90 minutes. This will aggrivate not only the core audience, but newcomers the low ranked streamer is trying to attract.
All ten episodes of the series were screened for review. You can stream the Apple TV+ series Before October 25th.
Before Review — Billy Crystal Plays Against Type in This Disappointingly Hackneyed Psychological Horror Thriller
Before milks any goodwill from its core audience (or newcomers) by testing the audience’s patience with ten episodes, when the story could have easily been wrapped up in 90 minutes. This hackneyed Apple TV+ thriller makes the fatal mistake of casting Billy Crystal in the lead role. The legendary comedian simply doesn’t possess the nuance or subtle emotional depth the role demands.
