Echo Valley: A Compelling Setup That Could’ve Been Better as a Series

Kate's (Julianne Moore) secluded life is disrupted when her estranged daughter Claire (Sydney Sweeney) arrives unannounced, terrified and covered in someone else’s blood. As Kate searches for answers, she’s forced to confront how far she’s willing to go to protect her child.

The movie begins with a strong premise and an intriguing setup. The dynamic between Moore and Sweeney is compelling, and both deliver solid performances. The cinematography stands out, with several scenes featuring striking imagery that heightens the tension.

The first 30 minutes build a promising mystery, especially around Claire’s sudden appearance and unstable behavior. It sets the expectation that the story will revolve around her psychologically, emotionally, or even criminally. But just as it starts gaining momentum, the plot takes an unexpected turn that sidelines Claire almost entirely. What replaces that storyline feels thin and less engaging.

From that point on, the pacing becomes uneven. The second half rushes through key developments without allowing characters or themes to breathe. There’s little character growth, and the core mystery loses impact. The suspense fades as the narrative shifts focus to a less compelling direction that doesn’t fully pay off.

The biggest missed opportunity is the underdeveloped mother-daughter relationship. Kate and Claire’s dynamic is the emotional anchor of the film, but it’s barely explored after the setup. Sweeney, in particular, is underused, despite being central to the opening hook.

Visually, the film is impressive, and the acting is strong across the board, but the writing doesn’t support the initial promise. The story would have benefited from a longer format, possibly a limited series, where the characters and tension could evolve more naturally.

Overall, it’s a decent watch for streaming, but ultimately feels like a missed opportunity. The film starts strong but doesn’t follow through, leaving its most compelling elements underexplored.