‘Echo Valley' movie review: Julianne Moore shines in this routine thriller
A horse farm in Pennsylvania serves as the setting for this rural noir. Written by Brad Ingelsby, the brains behind the stunning Mare of Easttown, Echo Valley is a by-the-numbers thriller made watchable by the luminescent Julianne Moore.
Grieving for the death of her wife in a riding accident, Kate (Julianne Moore), is struggling to run Echo Valley, a horse farm, they ran together. When the contractor gloomily says repairing the roof would cost $9,000, Kate asks her wealthy ex-husband, Richard, (Kyle MacLachlan) for the money.
Echo Valley (English)
Director: Michael Pearce
Cast: Julianne Moore, Sydney Sweeney, Domhnall Gleeson, Kyle MacLachlan, Fiona Shaw
Runtime: 103 minutes
Storyline: A grieving widow goes to extreme lengths to keep her troubled daughter safe
Richard unwillingly writes her cheque, chastising her for indulging their heroin-addicted daughter, Claire (Sydney Sweeney), who is in and out of rehab. Richard also tells Kate to sell the farm as it is not turning a profit and it does not make sense to throw good money after bad.
Late one night, Claire visits Kate, dragging in all her problems as well. There is her druggie boyfriend, Ryan (Edmund Donovan), the scary drug dealer, Jackie (Domhnall Gleeson), a deficit of $10,000 and a body to dispose off. Kate is willing to go any lengths to protect Claire, who knows it and manipulates her mother.
Though there is a body and a police investigation, Echo Valley is more of a relationship drama with thriller elements thrown in. That the said ingredients would hardly have you gnawing your nails in suspense wondering what happens next, does not do the mercifully short movie any favours.
Echo Valley is propped by excellent acting starting with Moore who invests so much into her character that we are forced to do the same. She is tough and broken, grieving and warm, caring and razor sharp. Sweeney is excellent as the damaged Clair who is like a wrecking ball destroying everything in her path. Gleeson makes it easy to hate the execrable Jackie, which says a lot about his acting prowess. Fiona Shaw (Maarva from Andor) as Kate's best friend, Jessie, provides a hearty anchor to all the fraught proceedings.
Produced by Ridley Scott and Ingelsby, among others, another plus in Echo Valley's court is Benjamin Kračun's (Promising Young Woman, The Substance) lovely frames. There seems to be a misty beauty to the constant rain, the rolling greens and the serene lake. The horses as always are a sight for sore eyes and there is also the dog, Cooper, who knows more than he is letting on. Not as nuanced as it could have been, Echo Valley's cast and cinematography manage to make it watchable.
Echo Valley is currently streaming on Apple TV+
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Squid Game director reveals real-world figures who inspired VIPs: ‘They no longer hide behind a curtain'
The Squid Game series was inspired by some real-life experiences of director Hwang Dong Hyuk. In the show, we mostly follow the players, poor and desperate, ready to kill each other for money. And while we kept slamming some players for behaving selfishly, the show makes it clear that the real villains are not the players, but the ultra-rich watching from the top. These are the VIPs, treating the lives of people they consider beneath them as nothing more than a circus for their amusement. In a recent interview with Time magazine, director Hwang opened up about how some of the biggest tech billionaires and those in power inspired the role, and whether some of the characters have real-life resemblance. The VIP's first appeared in season 1, episode 7 and were shown as filthy rich people gulping alcohol, speaking English, wearing gold animal masks, and betting on the players' lives. They treat it like gambling on horses. In Season 1, they stayed in their luxury rooms and watched everything from behind the scenes, pampered and protected by the Front Man, played by Lee Byung Hun. Later, it was revealed that Oh Il Nam was the head of VIP's who played as player 001. He was dying, so he created the game for fun, a jab at how the rich are disconnected from human life and suffering. In season 3, however, these VIP's get down into the game themselves, take off their masks and kill people with their bare hands. Also read: Squid Game Season 3 ending explained: The truth about Gi Hun's fate, the mystery woman, and all survivors Director Hwang Dong Hyuk said this was intentional. He wanted to show how the rich no longer even bother to hide their power. 'In the past, those that really controlled the system and maintained power were hidden behind the curtain, almost like this big unseen conspiracy. However, it's no longer the case, especially in America,' Hwang told Time. 'We talk a lot about oligarchy these days, but these so-called big tech owners, they step up, telling everyone who they're backing with their money. They willingly take their masks off, almost as if to declare, 'We're the ones running everything. We're the ones in control,' he added. Director Hwang said that while the concept of the VIPs is not based on one person, while writing the final script, he started seeing some familiarity with the current scenario in the world. Like Elon Musk, for example. 'Elon Musk is everywhere these days, right?' Hwang said, adding, 'Everybody talks about him. Not only is he the head of a huge tech company that controls the world almost, but he's also a showman. After writing [Season 3], of course I thought, 'Oh, some of the VIPs do kind of resemble Elon Musk.'' The director even revealed that, although it was very unintentional and he didn't plan it that way, one of the VIPs also resembles US President Donald Trump. Also read: Squid Game 3 ending: 7 burning questions answered in Netflix thriller finale; future possibilities explored Hwang, during the interview, also revealed how his own struggle with money and the 2008 financial crisis shaped this story. He spoke about the recent political fights in South Korea, referring to the president's impeachment, and even the US Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, when some Trump supporters stormed into the building. All these events made him realise the extent people go when driven by hate and greed. He feels that people have forgotten how to disagree and now outright disregard others as evil. And with the rise of AI, algorithms, and fake news, Hwang began to ask: 'Are elections even working anymore?' In the second-last episode, players are even told to vote on who to kill next, and one option is to eliminate the baby in Gi Hun's hands. That's when one Player says, 'Let's vote on who should get eliminated, and keep it democratic, like they're not talking about murder.'
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Indian Express
F1 box office collection day 1: Brad Pitt's racing drama outpaces Top Gun Maverick but stalls behind Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning, earns Rs 5.25 crore
Summer has officially arrived, and so has Brad Pitt, making a high-octane return with his much-anticipated film F1: The Movie, which opened to impressive numbers across Indian theatres. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, the film earned approximately Rs 5.25 crore net on its first day (Friday), across all languages. The English 2D version posted an overall occupancy of 27.82% on its opening day. The film began modestly with 13.93% occupancy during the morning shows, gained momentum to reach 27.14% in the afternoon, rose further to 28.35% in the evening, and peaked at 41.84% during the night shows. Regionally, Chennai led with a strong 43% occupancy, followed closely by Hyderabad at 40.75% and Kochi at 31.75%. Surprisingly, key metropolitan markets like Mumbai and Delhi lagged behind, recording only 22.25% and 20.5% occupancy, respectively. Among the premium formats, English 4DX registered the highest occupancy across all languages and formats at 68%, followed by English IMAX at 58.57%, and English ICE at 39.94%. Also Read | F1 movie review: Film leaves you wanting more Formula 1, and more Brad Pitt While F1: The Movie is generating significant buzz and audience anticipation, it still fell short of surpassing the opening day record of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which had collected Rs 16.5 crore on day one. However, Pitt's latest outing did outperform other recent major Hollywood releases in India. It beat Karate Kid Legends, starring Jackie Chan, which opened with Rs 1.75 crore, and his own previous film Bullet Train, which collected Rs 0.45 crore on its first day. The film features Brad Pitt as a veteran race-car driver who returns to Formula One after three decades to revive a struggling team and save his former teammate's legacy. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, best known for the global blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick, F1 has already surpassed Top Gun: Maverick's Indian opening day numbers, which stood at Rs 4.89 crore. With largely positive reviews and soaring audience interest, all eyes are now on how F1: The Movie performs in the coming days. However, its box office run will be tested by competition from regional releases such as Sitaare Zameen Par, Maa, and Kannappa.
India Today
3 hours ago
- India Today
Staff Selection Commission final answer key out for 39,481 government jobs
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the SSC GD 2025 final answer key on June 28. Candidates who appeared for the SSC Constable (GD) exam can now download the final answer key along with their response sheets from the official SSC website, by using their application number and SSC Constable (GD) examination was held between February 4 and 25, 2025, as a computer-based test featuring 80 questions worth a total of 160 marks, which candidates had to complete within 60 minutes. The exam was conducted in multiple languages, including English, Hindi, and 13 regional TO DOWNLOAD SSC GD 2025 FINAL ANSWER KEYCandidates can download the SSC GD 2025 final answer key by following these steps: - Visit the official website at Click on the link to download the final answer key.- Log in using your credentials.- The final answer key will be displayed on your screen.- Download and save a copy for future link to download SSC GD 2025 final answer key and response sheetThe SSC initially released a provisional answer key on March 4, 2025, and allowed candidates to submit objections until March 9. After reviewing these objections, the final answer key has been step is crucial for candidates to assess their performance and prepare for upcoming stages of the recruitment GD RECRUITMENT: VACANCIES AND MOREThe SSC GD 2025 recruitment drive aims to fill 39,481 vacancies across various positions, including Constable roles in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), Rifleman (GD) in Assam Rifles, and Sepoy in the Narcotics Control from the GD roles, the SSC has announced vacancies for the Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) and Havaldar positions. The MTS and Havaldar application process is underway, with applications accepted until July 24, interested in these positions are advised to refer to the SSC website for detailed notifications and updates on application procedures. The commission has planned a computer-based examination for these roles from September 20 to October 24, is crucial for prospective candidates to stay informed about upcoming deadlines and further details, candidates should visit the official SSC website, where comprehensive information about answer keys, results, and notifications is regularly updated.- Ends
