Echo Valley

If ever a film made you want to scream in frustration, this would be it. From the constant betrayals of trust, to people getting away with horrendous crimes, to the overly-forgiving mom... it will drive you INSANE! That said, the acting was excellent across the board. Julianne Moore is convincing as the mother who will do anything for her child, even if her role is identical to what she's done in her last 50 films. Sydney Sweeney, while perhaps slightly exaggerated at times, delivers a strong performance as an addict, with very realistic addict behaviours. The standout for me was Domhnall Gleeson, who truly shone as the conniving, self-centred drug dealer. I'm so used to seeing him in more passive, underdog roles, so this was a great chance for him to show a different side.

That being said, the story and plot were absolutely maddening. I cannot accept the way Moore's character Kate treats Claire (Sweeney), and vice versa. It felt far too unrealistic. A mother's love is unconditional, yes, but there is a difference between unconditional and overindulgent. At some point, long before the events in the film, Kate should have realised that her constant "help" was doing far more harm than good. I hate when films normalise this dynamic between parents and children and villainise the voice of reason. I fully understand the parental instinct to protect your children at all costs, but when your actions only drag them deeper into their self-destruction, who are you really protecting?

One of the greatest actresses in the world, really digging into her part as the mother of a wayward daughter. You believe her in the first half as she tries to cover up evidence and a body. Then things go sideways and a little dopey. The second half could've used a serious rewrite. Just didn't buy it. No spoilers. I'm giving this a 7 because Julianne Moore gives a world class performance and you believe it. Sydney Sweeney is also great as the junkie daughter. The very last scene was so predictable that it made me cringe. But overall it's a good watch because of the two leads. Gleeson is also believable as the dealer. Second half could've used a rewrite.

The telltale sign that this was a great movie was the range of emotions I felt throughout. Julianne Moore and Sydney Sweeney give incredible performances, along with the supporting actors. They truly make you feel frustrated at times, angry at other times and super sad along the way.

Julianne Moore is every enabling parent that you can never talk sense into, and Sydney Sweeney is every junkie kid that puts substance of use ahead of their family. Both characters are just as frustrating and heartbreaking as anyone who's watched this play out in real life.

And although the movie starts out a little slow, there's a twist in the middle that works toward another twist at the end that's even more surprising.

Definitely worth putting on your watch list.

Kate (Julianne Moore) is dealing with a personal tragedy while owning and training horses in Echo Valley, an isolated and picturesque place, when her daughter, Claire (Sydney Sweeney), arrives at her doorstep, frightened, trembling and covered in someone else's blood.

Right from the off the film promises to be something good, there's just a vibe about it. As the story grows you think it's going to be all about her wasting her life on her daughter and coming to an untimely end because of her.

But after some skilful twists and turns we realise it was never the film we thought it was going to be. Moore is fabulous as the mother, and Sweeney sure shows her acting chops as the wayward daughter. Domnhall Gleeson is at his menacing best in this taut, surprising thriller.

I very much enjoyed it and give it a solid 7.

Julianne Moore is one of the few working actresses with both the talent and name recognition to elevate any mid-budget movie into a relatively successful and engaging experience. Put her in an aesthetically pleasing house with hardships, and she'll deliver a moving performance full of emotional depth and layered moral quandaries.

There's some immersion-breaking Apple product placement-now a norm for films produced by giant tech companies-but "Echo Valley" remains a suspenseful thriller with minimal violence. It's at its best and original when focusing on the ominous mother-daughter dynamic between Julianne Moore and Sydney Sweeney, whose performances fully sell the premise.