Echo Valley
It’s difficult to make an effective thriller, particularly one that’s neither trite nor bogged down with clichés. Echo Valley adopts a classic formula, but it’s one that succeeds thanks to being anchored by the ever excellent Julianne Moore.
Set against a pastoral Pennsylvania landscape, Michael Pearce’s film stars Moore as horse trainer Kate, who lives a seemingly idyllic life on her farm. But she harbours deep-seated trauma. Having lost her wife, she tortures herself by listening to her old voice messages and caressing the empty indents in her mattress. Her ex-husband, Richard (the always reliable Kyle MacLachlan), expresses his frustration that a side effect of Kate’s wallowing is her neglect of the couple’s disturbed daughter, Claire (Sydney Sweeney). Struggling with substance misuse, Claire is mercilessly taunted by drug dealer Jackie (Domhnall Gleeson in a surprisingly menacing role), to whom she owes money. And soon enough, Claire’s issues test the boundaries of what Kate is willing to do to protect her daughter.
The scenes of frantic desperation born from addiction recall similarly harrowing moments in The Man with the Golden Arm and Jungle Fever. Such emotionally intense confrontations can easily succumb to caricature, but Moore and Sweeney are superb in ensuring that Kate and Claire are portrayed respectfully despite their inner turmoil. Amid the dramatic tension, Fiona Shaw’s Jessie is a soothing presence, offering some much-needed solace to Kate (and, indeed, the audience).
Echo Valley explores how far a mother will go in supporting her child, with the troubled Claire increasingly testing Kate’s trust. At times, it takes the slow-burner route without much payoff. There are certain scenes that end too abruptly and accordingly would have benefited from more seamless transitions. However, the performances of the two leads make the film a wholly enjoyable watch despite its pacing issues.
A traditional thriller with a fresh spin, it compellingly explores the limits of unconditional maternal love and familial bonds. Moreover, it’s refreshing to see a woman – and a veteran, considering Hollywood’s rampant ageism – taking on the sort of heroic archetype that’s usually reserved for men. Twisty and full of surprises, Echo Valley is a gripping nail-biter with an impeccable cast to boot.
Antonia Georgiou
Echo Valley is released on Apple TV+ on 13th June 2025.
Watch the trailer for Echo Valley here:
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