Introduction to Echo Valley
On the surface, Echo Valley feels like an unexpected step for Sydney Sweeney in this phase of her career. The young star broke out with HBO’s Euphoria and drove a large wave of popularity to the global cash success of her 2023 romantic comedy, Everyone Except You, alongside Glen Powell. She did the obvious by signing a superhero film next, but that didn’t quite work for her. The film in question, Madame Web, was maligned by critics and audiences.
The Film’s Reception
Before returning with the long-awaited third season of Euphoria, Sweeney can be seen in the Apple TV+ thriller Echo Valley, which is set for release this Friday, but with lukewarm reviews. Echo Valley currently holds a 53% Rotten Tomatoes score, with most critics citing its illogical narrative and indecisive writing. In his review, Collider’s Jeff Ewing wrote that the film "explores the terrible potential of unconditional parental love for a shocking and surprising story that falls apart."
The Plot and Cast
Directed by Michael Pearce and written by Mare from Easttown’s Brad Inglesby, the film doesn’t actually showcase Sweeney that prominently; it is led by Julianne Moore. She plays Kate, a grieving woman who deals with the death of her wife and the addiction of her young daughter. When the daughter gets entangled with a number of criminals and lands on her doorstep with someone else’s blood on her clothes, Kate goes to great lengths to protect her. Moore was recently seen in the Netflix dark comedy Sirens, which also starred Meghann Fahy and Milly Alcock. Although it was popular in the Netflix charts for a few weeks, the five-episode series has not received exactly enthusiastic reviews, settling at a 76% Rotten Tomatoes score. Echo Valley also features Domhnall Gleeson, who was recently seen as a villain in Guy Ritchie’s The Fountain of Youth, another film that was not deemed worthy of a theatrical release by Apple.
Sweeney’s Upcoming Projects
Sweeney has an exciting slate lined up. She will next be seen in director Ron Howard’s survival thriller Eden, which is slated for a theatrical release in August. The film also stars Vanessa Kirby, Ana de Armas, and Jude Law, among others. She is also filming The Housemaid, a psychological thriller that stars Brandon Sklenar, Amanda Seyfried, and Michele Morrone in supporting roles. The Housemaid will be released by Lionsgate in theaters in December. Echo Valley can be watched on Apple TV+ starting this Friday.
Film Details
- Release Date: June 13, 2025
- Director: Michael Pearce
- Writer: Brad Ingelsby
- Producers: Kevin J. Walsh, Ridley Scott, Brad Ingelby, Michael A. Pruss
