REVIEW: ‘Behind Her Eyes’ Brings a Twist, But Without Enough Plot To Deliver It

Behind Her Eyes is a thriller mini-series on Netflix. Meet Louise. She is a single mother who works as a secretary at a psychiatrist’s office. One night, she accidentally bumps into a man named David. The two instantly hit it off, but there are some complications to the situation. Not the least of which is that David is married. And his wife Adele is something unlike anyone Louise has ever met.

It is always frustrating when you see a series that comes so close to nailing it, but falls just short. When many of the elements of a great production are present, but it just can’t manage to bring it all together. That one element that fails to make the whole thing click. It’s frustrating to watch. Unfortunately, Behind Her Eyes suffers this fate. With some strong performances, good moments, and a surprise twist ending I didn’t see coming, it feels like it should knock it out of the park. Why doesn’t it? Its biggest problem is pacing.

For the bulk of this six-episode series, the viewer watches as the protagonist Louise makes a series of bad calls that ends up seeing her both sleeping with David, who shortly after meeting her is revealed as being her new boss, while simultaneously befriending David’s wife Adele. The situation plays out in much the way one expects. As Louise and David become more entangled, Louise’s guilt over going behind Adele’s back grows. That coupled with Adele’s obsession with her husband and her possession of him forms the major points of tension for the series.

This is one of those setups that is tough for me. Up until the last couple of episodes of the series, I have mixed feelings about how I’m supposed to feel about the characters. Behind Her Eyes wants me to be sympathetic to Louise while being chilled by Adele. The problem with this is that for most of the series David and Louise are the ones doing something wrong, as they are having the affair. The show keeps its secrets so close to the vest that by the time they are revealed they feel unbelievable. It’s such a big leap from where the show has been going that, while it is creative and surprising on its own, it doesn’t mesh with the rest of the series.

While I think the bulk of the series takes it far too slow and reveals too little of what is going on, the acting throughout it is strong. This is especially true for Simona Brown’s portrayal of Louise. As the pressure mounts throughout the story, the viewer can feel Louise unraveling. Brown captures these moments fantastically.

Another aspect of Behind Her Eyes that lands well is the cinematography. Many of the sequences and are filled with great camera angles and a strong sense of lighting that enhances the mood of the scenes. This excellent camera and lighting work only help to elevate the already strong acting performances.

When all is said and done Behind Her Eyes is a mixed bag. While I think the acting is strong, the show doesn’t do enough with it. Couple that with a plot twist that manages to be creative, while also coming a bit too far out of left field, and what is supposed to be the series strongest point lands just as unevenly as the rest of the show.

Behind Her Eyes is streaming now on Netflix.