Echo Valley, the new Apple TV+ thriller fromMichael Pearce(Beast) and written byMare of EasttowncreatorBrad Ingelsby, really hits home the potential perils of parenting. A good parent would do anything to protect and care for their child. Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) takes on asurrogate mother role inAliens, and regularly puts herself in harm’s way to protect young Newt. Over the course of theTerminatorfranchise, Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton)becomes an action hero fighting a future apocalypse to protect her son. It’s a beautiful attribute, but sans boundaries, love can become an albatross around a vulnerable parent’s neck.Echo Valleyexplores the terrible potential of unconditional parental love, mining it for a harrowing and surprising tale.It’s anchored by strong performances, an unexpected set of narrative pivots, and a largely solid script for a tense, gorgeously shot movie.
What is ‘Echo Valley’?
Life is tough for Kate Garretson (Julianne Moore). She’s grieving the loss of her loving wife and left to run the couple’s isolated horse ranch alone. Kate loves her daughter Claire (Sydney Sweeney) without a desire or ability to say no, but Claire’s history of drug addiction has put Kate in dire straits before. When a panicked Claire comes knocking with a real crisis, and a dead body in her car, Kate works to hide the evidence. Sleazy drug dealer Jackie (Domhnall Gleeson) comes knocking, claiming he knows what Kate did and wanting to use that information for leverage. What’s an isolated, grieving mother to do?
‘Echo Valley’ Is Elevated By High-Caliber Performances
Julianne Moore is excellent as the loving, besieged mother and grieving widow. She believably handles the film’s tougher moments, while balancing a commanding screen presence and impressive openness. Sydney Sweeney gives an exceptional portrayal of a desperate, addicted daughter,putting her ability to manifest instant intensity to great dramatic use. Domhnall Gleeson is a chilling, evil, serpentine Devil, Gleeson’s inherent likability successfully creating a manipulative monster.He’sone of the scariest villains this year. As far as supporting players,Fiona Shawgives warmth and grace to Kate’s friend and confidant, Leslie, elevating every scene she’s in.
As a whole, Ingelsby’s script presentsa strong and thrilling drama that’s more complex than it initially appears. Surprising events swirl around Kate, and it smartly stays locked to her perspective, allowing audiences to feel how trapped she subjectively feels. Characters are written with depth and a sense of history, and things are kept consistently fresh, fora tight narrative that treats love as a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it’s rare for this genre to capture how dangerous blind, unconditional love can be. On the other,Kate and Leslie’s close friendshipprovides a key source of allyship and solace for Kate, a nuanced and intelligent look at something often taken for granted.
We Have Failed as a Society to Fully Appreciate Domhnall Gleeson
The younger Gleeson has proven himself as one of today’s most versatile actors.
The finale is quite satisfying, but admittedly seems a little too easily resolved given what came before. It works, but it feels abrupt in practice.Part of this speaks to larger issues with the film’s pacing.The film vacillates at times between an absolute lack of visible movement and sudden epiphanies and decisions, like in a key scene where Kate is looking for Claire for reasons that won’t be spoiled here.Claire’s arc as a whole seems plagued by a lack of smooth tonal progression.Addicts in the throes of addiction can tragically flip emotions on a dime, sure, but some wild pivots happen here that could have greater honing in the setup. All that said, the core dynamics' fundamentals work, and provide a film worth watching.
‘Echo Valley’ Uses Unconventional Genre Elements For A Unique, Tense Ride
Echo Valleyis a devastating look at the complex vulnerabilities of loveand how they can put someone in dire jeopardy. The loss of a loved one can prove a devastating and isolating event in the life of an otherwise capable person. Unconditional love can render someone subject to terrible fates against someone overtaken by substance abuse. Still, love can open the world to allies and much-needed friends.It’s an atypically emotional and intense tale that’s propelled by exceptional performances from Moore, Sweeney, and a thoroughly chilling Gleeson, cementingEcho Valleyas one of the year’s finest thrillers.
Echo Valleyis in theaters now and comes to Apple TV+ on June 13.
Echo Valley
Echo Valley is a tense thriller propelled by strong performances from Moore and Sweeney and a never scarier Domnhall Gleeson.
