For a parent, losing a child is the worst nightmare imaginable. It’s the kind of tragedy that can leave a wound so deep it never fully heals. But for Andrea Riseborough’s character in the upcoming “Here Before,” that’s only the beginning.
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The debut feature from writer/director Stacey Gregg follows a grief-stricken mother who becomes convinced (and not without reason) that her neighbor’s daughter is the reincarnation of her late child. The dark psychodrama had its world premiere at March’s virtual SXSW Festival, where it garnered praise for Riseborough’s haunting lead performance and Gregg’s sensitive direction.
Here’s the official synopsis:
“When new neighbors move in, Laura is awakened from her mundane daily routine of errands and exercise. She becomes transfixed by their young daughter, Megan. Megan’s parents Marie and Chris initially don’t seem to mind as Laura offers Megan a ride home from school and an invitation to dinner. Her husband Brendon grows concerned as his wife’s infatuation with the young girl spirals into increasingly erratic behavior. Eerily, Megan seemingly knows far too many specific details of their family life and displays similar mannerisms of their dead daughter. Is the trauma of losing her child causing Laura to lose grip on reality, or is Megan truly the reincarnation of her daughter?”
Aside from Riseborough as Laura, the film stars young newcomer Niamh Dornan as Megan, Eileen O’Higgins (“Mary Queen of Scots”) and Martin McCann (“Killing Bono”) as Megan’s parents, and Jonjo O’Neill (“The Queen’s Gambit”) as Laura’s husband.
The distribution rights were acquired in November by Saban Films, a company that deals almost exclusively in niche, adult-oriented genre movies. “Here Before” is scheduled for release in theaters on February 11 and on VOD on February 15.