Babak Anvari’s “I Came By,” a primarily successful potboiler, has the opposite issue of so many miniseries on the streaming service in that it has a TV season’s worth of ideas crammed into its runtime.
It’s rare to accuse a Netflix thriller of being overly ambitious, but that’s the case with Babak Anvari’s “I Came By.”
By switching POVs and skipping significant periods, he continuously challenges assumptions about where “I Came By” is going.
However, this results in a movie that is unsure of its own identity and struggles to marry its ideas with its execution.
Having said that, “I Came By” has some entertaining performances and interesting concepts, two things that set it apart from much of the output of the Netflix Thriller Factory.
Toby, a teenage graffiti artist with a distinctive M.O. who paints his work in the private residences of the affluent and powerful, is portrayed by George MacKay of “1917.”
Toby trespasses into opulent mansions with his friend Jay (Percelle Ascott), who spray-paints the words “I Came By” on a wall.
It’s not quite evident, but Toby undoubtedly enjoys exposing the vulnerability of individuals who have been shielded from society.
After Jay dissolves the partnership due to his girlfriend’s pregnancy forcing him to reevaluate his priorities, Toby resolves to do the following task by himself.
This brings him to the residence of Hector Blake, a retired judge who appears to be a respectable member of his town.