Minimal show gives drama to the max
James Croot finds himself hooked to a mystery drama that offers style and substance.
Fans of minimalist architecture and interior design ‘‘porn’’ should definitely check out The Girl Before. The cast of the four-part atmospheric British psychological thriller includes the magnificent Gugu Mbatha-Raw and David Oyelowo, but a stylish one-bedroom London home – billed as 1 Forgate Street – is the show’s real star.
Designed and owned by Oyelowo’s mysterious architect Edward, it is full of clean lines, polished stone and empty space. Featuring no carpets or rugs, zero switches and coming with a bracelet, instead of a key, it’s available at a ridiculously affordable rent for people prepared to live in it the way he intended.
That means as well as no smoking and no pets, there are no pictures, no ornaments, no magazines, no drinks coasters, no nic-nacs and certainly no children. A small cupboard in the bedroom is the only place where personal things can be kept, and he insists that nothing be left on the floor – or on the bed. Regular inspections are built into the contract – and any infringement could result in eviction.
At first, that’s a deal-breaker for Simon (Ben Hardy). ‘‘I’m not having someone tell me off for leaving a pair of dirty socks out,’’ he bristles.
However, his partner Emma (Jessica Plummer) is less perturbed, despite her own reputation for cluttered and messy living. She believes this is the opportunity to clean up her act and move on from a traumatic home invasion and robbery. So despite a seemingly less-than-successful interview with
Edward, where she manages to spill coffee on his latest set of plans, she’s delighted when the news comes through that the place is theirs.
Flash-forward three years though and the place is back on the market. Empty for some time, it attracts the attention of lawyer Jane (MbathaRaw). Having suffered a recent tragedy herself, she’s eager for a fresh start and a new space to call home.
Jane is also just as intrigued in Ed, especially when she hears that the house was a redesign of a planned family home, which was abandoned when the architect’s wife and son died. When he explains how the decor was the result of relentlessly eradicating anything unnecessary or imperfect and that its ‘‘housekeeping’’ system is designed to adapt to the occupants’ needs in ‘‘real time’’, Jane expresses concerns about potential intrusion on her privacy.
‘‘Oh, it’s nothing Facebook or Google wouldn’t know about you,’’ Edward assures her.
‘‘I don’t think Facebook follows me into the shower,’’ she retorts.
Despite that, when offered the chance to move in, Jane jumps at it. However, the daily arrival of flowers on her doorstep makes her worry if Edward is obsessed. That is, until she discovers who is leaving them – and who they are really for.
Cleverly criss-crossing between the tenants and their respective time-lines (something that includes the smart use of split-screens), The Girl Before quickly ramps up the mystery and tension, drawing the viewer into the story to the point where you’ll quickly find you’ve binge-watched the whole thing.
Co-adapted by J P Delaney (along with Marissa Lestrade) from his 2016 novel of the same name, Girl Before offers both style and substance, thanks largely to the terrific performances of the central trio who really sell the potentially troubling, lurid and laughable premise, by grounding and fleshing out their characters in all their respectively flawed glories.
Known for her work on Killing Eve, Servant and Castle Rock, Swiss actor-turned-director Lisa Bruhlmann likewise does a fine job of keeping the audience guessing as to where things are headed, while making sure the house at the centre of the action is a thing of desire, beauty and potential malevolence in equal measure.
The Girl Before begins streaming on Neon and Sky Go today.