Welcome to ‘Showtime with Emily Maddick’, in which GLAMOUR'S Assistant Editor and Entertainment Director brings a unique perspective to the month's most hyped film or TV show. For June’s instalment, Emily takes on Apple TV's new psychological thriller, Echo Valley. Starring Julianne Moore, Sydney Sweeney and Fiona Shaw, the brilliant film delves deep into the devastating impact of addiction & the complexities of motherhood. But what stands it apart from other prestige TV moments, says Emily, is its quietly powerful portrayal of queer friendship.
*Echo Valley spoilers incoming*
My best friend of nearly 40 years, Jenna, often jokes that we are so close that if either of us were to become involved in a murder, we’d unconditionally stand by one another. And we would.
Apple TV’s new psychological thriller, Echo Valley (which, btw, is so brilliant I’ve watched it twice) showcases the power of female friendship to this very end as we see the main characters become embroiled in an accidental murder, cover up, blackmail and potential insurance scam. But what stood out for me is the representation of the power of friendship and sisterhood amongst queer women, which is a refreshing dynamic rarely seen on our screens.
It will drop on Apple TV+ this summer.
Starring Julianne Moore and Sydney Sweeney (giving one of the best performances of her career to date) the psychological thriller delves deep into the devastating impact of addiction, the complexities of motherhood and the lengths one is willing to go to in order to protect one’s child.
Directed by BAFTA-winner Michael Pearce and written by Brad Inglesby (Mare of Easttown), the film unfolds on a secluded horse farm in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Moore plays Kate Garrett, a grieving widow who finds her life completely upended when her estranged, yet spoiled drug addict daughter, Claire (Sweeney), arrives at her doorstep covered in someone else's blood. Very rapidly, the story turns from a complex domestic drama into a twisty, edge-of-your-sofa suspense-filled exploration of love, sacrifice and survival. With a really sinister, lanky-haired baddie, played impeccably by Domhnall Gleeson.
And while the film may seem to have many of the hallmarks of what we’ve come to expect from prestige TV; with all the schadenfreude-y gorging on the downfall of gorgeous rich Americans in gorgeous rich American enclaves, Echo Valley lands a bit differently.
Yes, it’s undeniably beautiful in its sweeping shots of the rolling hills of rural Pennsylvania. And yes it stars the new Queen of prestige TV, Moore (see Sirens, Nine Perfect Strangers and move over Nicole Kidman) alongside the OG princess of prestige TV, Sweeney (see Euphoria, The White Lotus). But, as the audience, we're not revelling in the downfall of Moore's character in this film. Absolutely not. Her cash-strapped grief, having to go cap in hand to her lawyer ex-husband, (Kyle MacLachlan) who has moved on with a younger new wife, all the while battling her daughter's erratic behaviour due to her savage addiction is dark and harrowing. And portrayed by Moore with her signature intensity. But the film's only gleam of light comes in the form of the beautifully, quietly portrayed tight, loyal and unconditional platonic friendship between two queer women.
Step forward the unparalleled Fiona Shaw. The legendary Irish actor (Killing Eve, Harry Potter) plays Kate’s best friend, Jessie Oliver and brings her trademark no-nonsense persona, wisdom and intellect to the role. As the story unfolds, we learn that Kate had left her husband (and father of Claire) for a woman, Patty, a few years earlier. Or as she jokes to Jessie at one point, “I'm the one who fell in love with the lesbo ranch hand.” Patty and Kate married, and by all accounts had been blissfully happy running the Echo Valley riding school together until Kate’s new wife suddenly died in a tragic accident, a cruel twist of fate that haunts Kate throughout the film.
It is clear that Kate's close friendship with Jessie and her wife, Joan, is what has saved her from her grief, her money troubles and her heart-wrenching and abusive relationship with her volatile and at times psychotic daughter. (Sweeney has said of the role that she felt sorry for Moore because of how horrifically Claire treats her, saying “I'm really vicious.”)
Early on in the film, when Kate is reeling from yet another heartbreaking and violent encounter with Claire and her boyfriend, Ryan, Jessie arrives to scoop her up. The two women muck out the horses, share a takeaway, many glasses of wine and end up dancing around the kitchen late at night. It is a rare scene of pure joy in the film and made all the more impactful by the fact that their sexuality is not the subject of the narrative, merely the context. It is their strong friendship, love and support for one another - especially Jessie's ultimate support of Kate in the final twist of the film - that shines through. And while the ending of this thriller might stretch the realms of credulity, it is the strength of this purely platonic female bond between two queer older women that made the film rich and gave it depth. Without this beautiful love story, the film would be a bleak, psychologically terrifying and somewhat fanciful one hour and 43 minutes. Here's to queer love in all it's many guises.
Echo Valley is in cinemas and on Apple TV+ from 13 June.
Plus, the Sirens star shares everything else in her wardrobe, including the perfect white shirt.
