If You Ever Wished ‘The Sixth Sense’ Starred Billy Crystal, Apple TV+ Has the Show for You

Apple TV+ is releasing what looks to be a chilling new series, just in time for Halloween. According to the streamer, Before is an “an atmospheric, character-driven psychological thriller” about a child psychiatrist and widower who encounters a small boy with a “haunting connection” to his past. Naturally, the lead role is played by the “you look mah-velous” guy.

Yup, Billy Crystal is the star of this dramatic, seemingly creepy show that, judging from the description, seems not so dissimilar from The Sixth Sense, another story of a child psychologist who befriends a child with whom he shares a mysterious connection. But imagine the Bruce Willis part played by someone who seems like he might break into a medley of humorous show tunes at any moment.

Before also stars the great Judith Light, and one of the executive producers is Oscar-winning screenwriter Eric Roth, who recently penned the script for Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon. Still, it’s going to be more than a little weird to watch a spooky prestige drama that prominently features the star of City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly’s Gold. That being said, this isn’t the first time that Crystal has played more dramatic roles.

Possibly due to the fact that his fellow Comic Relief pals Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg were getting attention from the Academy Awards, in 1992, Crystal co-wrote and starred in Mr. Saturday Night, an arguably misguided dramedy about a fictional stand-up comedian. You just know that Crystal had Oscar gold in his mind’s eye while he was being slathered in old age makeup.

Then there was his autobiographical one-man show 700 Sundays, as well as the cloying My Giant, and, of course, the ‘80s buddy cop movie Running Scared, which wasn’t without a few dramatic moments. 

But none of these projects were remotely creepy. Which isn’t to say that comedians can’t star in horror movies or psychological thrillers. Robin Williams was obviously great in movies where he played total creeps like Insomnia, One Hour Photo and Mrs. Doubtfire. And remember Chris Rock made a Saw movie just three years ago. Let us not forget either that Danny McBride was in an Alien sequel: 2017’s Alien: Covenant, which easily would have been 10 times better if they’d just let McBride play Kenny Powers in space.

For some reason, though, accepting Crystal in a genre show sounds especially daunting, possibly because all of his characters, even in more dramatic contexts, have been slight variations on the same comic persona that he’s maintained for nearly 50 years. But go ahead and prove us wrong, Billy. Bring on the Crystalissance. 

It’s totally possible that Before will be a spine-chilling work of pure genius, and Crystal will wow audiences by disappearing into the role of the bearded psychiatrist who hopefully won’t just remind everybody of the bearded psychiatrist he played in Analyze This.

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