Dir: Michael Pearce | Cast: Julianne Moore, Sydney Sweeney, Domhnall Gleeson, Fiona Shaw, Edmund Donovan, Albert Jones, Kyle MacLachlan | Drama | 83’
Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson is making a real name for himself in Hollywood after his career took off with the Harry Potter series. Here, in this rather pointless thriller, he stars alongside Julianne Moore in a fraught study of domestic trauma that unfolds on an isolated New Jersey ranch where she trains horses.
After the tragic death of her partner Patty (Valada-Viars) nine months ago, devoted mother Kate Garretson (Moore) is still struggling to keep the business going when her daughter Claire (Sweeney) arrives to makes matter worse. Later on Kate is seen in the middle of a lake attempting to dispose of a large parcel wrapped in plastic, and Claire’s ex Jackie sees Domhnall cast against type as a local druggie.
If you’re looking for a film full of misery and anguish Echo Valley certainly delivers. It all starts as a calm relatable family affair but soon morphs into overblown melodrama territory with Sweeney’s Claire, a drug and alcohol abuser, over-acting: even the dog looks seriously frightened.
Echo Valley is held together by solid performances from Moore, Fiona Shaw (her close friend) and a brief look-in from Domhnall, coupled with a sinuous score from Jed Kurzel and Benjamin Kracun’s evocative visuals @MeredithTaylor
GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINATED.