I Came By (2022) Movie Review

Babak Anvari’s “I Came By” is a Netflix thriller that aims high but falls short due to an excess of ideas crammed into a single runtime. Despite its shortcomings, the film does offer some interesting performances and themes that raise it above other thrillers coming out of the Netflix factory.

The story centers around Toby, played by George MacKay, a young graffiti artist who likes to tag the private homes of the wealthy and powerful with the phrase “I Came By.” When his partner Jay, played by Percelle Ascott, leaves the duo, Toby decides to pursue his next job alone, which leads him to the home of a former judge named Hector Blake, played by Hugh Bonneville. There, he discovers a dark secret, but the story shifts focus to Toby’s mother, played by Kelly Macdonald, who begins to investigate her son's disappearance and uncovers Blake’s malevolent power and corruption.

Anvari struggles to balance the social commentary and genre thrills of the film, causing it to lose its hold on the latter. Bonneville's performance as Blake shines, but the lack of character development for the other "good guys" weakens the overall balance of the film. MacKay's portrayal of Toby may be part of the point, as the film could be interpreted as a critique of the shallow gestures of a young man against a system he doesn't fully understand.

While the film falls short of greatness, it remains a well-composed and entertaining watch. The final needle drop over the credits may be indicative of its shallowness, but the film's interesting themes and performances, particularly Bonneville's, make it worth watching.

Overall, "I Came By" is an ambitious film that tries to tackle several ideas, including social commentary, tension, and old-fashioned genre thrills, but fails to strike the perfect balance between them. Anvari's tendency to shift the point of view and jump major passages in time may disorient some viewers, but it keeps the story engaging and unpredictable.

The film's central theme is about how often powerful people can get away with murder in plain sight, and how difficult it can be to bring them to justice. Bonneville's portrayal of Hector Blake, a former judge who abuses his power and wealth, perfectly captures the arrogance and malevolence of those who think they are above the law.

Macdonald's character, Toby's mother, provides a much-needed anchor to the film as she relentlessly pursues the truth about her son's disappearance. Her quest leads her to Jay, who is now a father-to-be, and further revelations about Blake's dark secrets.

The performances are a mixed bag, with Bonneville stealing the show with his portrayal of the menacing Blake. MacKay's portrayal of Toby, on the other hand, comes across as shallow and underdeveloped, although this could be part of the character's arc. Toby may be a young man making hollow gestures against a system that he hasn't fully comprehended or feared.

Despite its flaws, "I Came By" does have its share of fun performances and clever themes. The film is elevated above many of the other Netflix thrillers that are churned out by the factory-like system. It is undeniably well-composed and entertaining, with its missteps being overlooked most of the time.

However, the film's final needle drop over the credits underscores its shallowness, leaving the viewer with a sense of unfulfilled potential. Although it may be a rewrite short of greatness, "I Came By" is still worth a visit, particularly for fans of the genre and those interested in exploring the theme of power and corruption.