Before traps Billy Crystal in a glacially paced psychological thriller

Inside Apple TV+ there are two wolves. One champions genuinely gripping stories, while the other is desperate to become the new dumping ground for prestige flops led by big Hollywood names. So despite a few of its genuinely good shows breaking through the clutter, other underrated gems (Pachinko, Land Of Women, Sunny) still struggle to find an audience. They also tend to get crushed under the weight of the platform’s hollow star-studded efforts (Extrapolations, The Morning Show) and misfires like Julianne Moore’s Lisey’s Story and Natalie Portman’s Lady In The Lake, which waste their leading stars’ talents. And now, Billy Crystal’s psychological thriller Before joins their ranks.   

Created by Sarah Thorp, Before is a meandering mess from start to finish. It nudges at the horrifying possibilities of its sweeping narrative without realizing any of its potential. Crystal plays Eli, a child psychologist haunted by the recent suicide of his wife (Judith Light). His grief worsens when a new patient, Noah (Jacobi Jupe), seems to be connected to him and know about a sordid past he’s been hiding. The shared nightmares, hallucinations, and conflicts of this old man and a young kid suggest something sinister or supernatural is afoot. So…what’s going on? A ferociously determined Eli attempts to find answers—but unfortunately, his efforts reach “your eyes will glaze over” levels of tediousness. 

To drive home their shared misery, Before hits you over the head with shots of creepy images—water dripping, a cold fog, a snaky worm, strange drawings, night terrors—over and over (and over and over) as a way to, presumably, develop an arty voice. And worse, these stylistic flourishes get priority over character development, pacing and backstories that would get viewers to be invested in or care about the outcomes of Noah, Eli, and their loved ones. 

On the plus side, directors like Adam Bernstein and David Petrarca are able to build a spooky world around these two. And sets like Eli’s brownstone and Noah’s hospital room invoke a feeling of claustrophobia once they both start to feel trapped in their own heads. In those rare moments, Before succeeds as a menacing, subliminal drama. But cool visuals aren’t enough to sustain ten episodes.