Echo Valley is a 2025 American thriller film directed by Michael Pearce and written by Brad Ingelsby, starring Julianne Moore, Sydney Sweeney, Domhnall Gleeson, Kyle MacLachlan, and Fiona Shaw. The plot follows Kate, a horse trainer who must aid her daughter Claire when she arrives at her doorstep frightened, trembling, and covered in someone else’s blood.
Echo Valley received a limited theatrical release in the United States and Canada on June 6, 2025, ahead of being released on Apple TV+ on June 13. This comprehensive guide explores the complete cast, their characters, and what makes their performances noteworthy in this psychological thriller.
Main Cast Members
Julianne Moore as Kate Garrett
Julianne Moore plays Kate, who is dealing with personal tragedy while owning and training horses in Echo Valley, an isolated and picturesque place. Kate Garrett works as a horse trainer on her farm, Echo Valley, in southern Pennsylvania, and is reeling from the loss of her wife, Patty, who died in a riding accident.
Julianne Moore’s Career: Moore is an Academy Award winner known for her Oscar-winning performance in “Still Alice” (2014). Her extensive filmography includes critically acclaimed roles in “Far from Heaven,” “The Hours,” “Boogie Nights,” and “The Big Lebowski.” Moore’s fine performance in Echo Valley showcases why she is seldom disappointing in her choice of movie roles.
Kate’s Character Arc: Kate is struggling to make ends meet with the operation of the farm and seeks financial help from her ex-husband, Richard, an attorney, who gives her $9000 to replace her roof but chastises Kate for squandering her money to help their daughter Claire, a troubled drug addict.
Sydney Sweeney as Claire Garrett
Sydney Sweeney plays Claire Garrett, a drug addict who returns home to torment her mother Kate when she needs money for drugs, dragging her mother into a whirlpool of crime and mayhem.
Sydney Sweeney’s Background: Sweeney gained widespread recognition for her performances in HBO’s “Euphoria” as Cassie Howard and “The White Lotus” as Olivia Mossbacher. She’s also appeared in “Anyone But You” (2023), “Reality” (2023), and “Immaculate” (2024), establishing herself as one of Hollywood’s rising talents.
Claire’s Role in the Story: Echo Valley effectively shows the lengths both the addict and the parents of addicts will go to either get drugs or protect their daughter. Claire’s complex relationship with her mother forms the emotional core of the thriller.
Domhnall Gleeson as Jackie Lyman
Domhnall Gleeson is chilling in his restraint, embodying what happens when you let victimhood rot into violence and detachment. He plays Jackie Lyman, the film’s antagonist who becomes central to the unfolding drama.
Domhnall Gleeson’s Notable Work: The Irish actor is celebrated for his roles in the “Star Wars” sequel trilogy, “Ex Machina,” “About Time,” “The Revenant,” and “Frank.” His versatility allows him to portray both sympathetic and menacing characters with equal skill.
Kyle MacLachlan as Richard Garrett
Kyle MacLachlan portrays Richard Garrett, Kate’s ex-husband and an attorney who plays a pivotal role in the family dynamics.
Kyle MacLachlan’s Legacy: MacLachlan is legendary for his collaborations with David Lynch, particularly his iconic role as Dale Cooper in “Twin Peaks.” He’s also known for “Blue Velvet,” “Dune” (1984), and his role in “Desperate Housewives.” He even voiced Riley’s father in Pixar’s “Inside Out” (2015).
Fiona Shaw as Leslie Oliver
Fiona Shaw plays the loyal friend and emotional ballast, the role that holds everything together—not a moral compass in the preachy sense, just present, constant, and human.
Fiona Shaw’s Acclaimed Career: Dame Fiona Shaw is celebrated for her theatrical work and screen performances, including her role as Petunia Dursley in the “Harry Potter” franchise and her Emmy-winning performance in “Killing Eve.” Her presence adds depth and authenticity to Echo Valley.
Edmund Donovan as Ryan Sinclair
Edmund Donovan portrays Ryan Sinclair, Claire’s boyfriend whose relationship with her sets the plot in motion.
Edmund Donovan’s Experience: Donovan is an American stage actor best known for his role as Joe in “Greater Clements.” His film credits include “Akron” (2015), and television appearances in “Hightown,” “High Fidelity,” and “Orange is the New Black.”
Supporting Cast Members
Albert Jones as Detective Ballard
Albert Jones plays Detective Ballard, the law enforcement officer investigating the circumstances surrounding the crime. Jones has appeared in television shows including “Law & Order,” “House of Cards,” and “Mindhunter,” and most recently starred in Netflix’s “The Night Agent” Season 2.
Kristina Valada-Viars as Patty
Kristina Valada-Viars plays Patty, Kate’s deceased wife. Though Patty appears primarily in flashbacks and voicemail messages, her presence haunts Kate throughout the film.
Additional Supporting Cast
The supporting cast includes Melanie Nicholls-King as Joan, Katya Campbell as Audrey, Rebecca Creskoff as Emma Hanway, Audrey Grace Marshall as Mallory Hanway, Jared Canfield as Park Ranger, and John Finn as Randy. These actors contribute to the authentic small-town Pennsylvania atmosphere that grounds the thriller.
Behind the Scenes: The Creative Team
Michael Pearce – Director
Echo Valley is directed by Michael Pearce, the BAFTA-winning British filmmaker known for “Beast” and “Encounter.” His directorial vision creates a tense atmosphere that allows the cast to deliver compelling performances.
Brad Ingelsby – Writer
The film is written by Brad Ingelsby, the Emmy-nominated writer behind HBO’s acclaimed miniseries “Mare of Easttown.” Ingelsby wrote Mare of Easttown, which garnered widespread love, though Echo Valley’s story doesn’t echo his previous success. Despite mixed reviews, his screenplay provides the cast with emotionally complex material.
Ridley Scott – Producer
The film is produced by Scott Free Productions, with legendary filmmaker Ridley Scott serving as producer alongside Kevin J. Walsh, Michael Pruss, and Brad Ingelsby. Scott’s involvement helped attract high-caliber talent to the project.
Plot Synopsis and Character Dynamics
The plot follows Kate Garrett, a horse trainer living a quiet life on a Pennsylvania farm, who must aid her daughter when she arrives in an alarming state. Several nights later, Claire returns home in a bloodied shirt and confesses that she killed Ryan during an argument by pushing him and causing him to hit his head on a rock.
The relationship between Kate and Claire drives the narrative. The film effectively shows the lengths both the addict and the parents of addicts will go to, either to get drugs or to protect their daughter. Kate’s unconditional love for her troubled daughter leads her to make increasingly desperate decisions.
Kate finds a corpse wrapped tightly in a sheet in Claire’s car, and desperate to protect Claire, drives the body to a nearby lake to dispose of it, weighing it down with a cinder block. This action sets off a chain of events that spirals beyond Kate’s control.
Critical Reception and Cast Performances
On Rotten Tomatoes, 51% of 92 critics’ reviews are positive, with the consensus reading: “Julianne Moore’s committed turn and the relatable premise of how far a parent will go for their child gives Echo Valley some high peaks, but soporific plotting sends it sloping back down to routine territory.”
Metacritic assigned the film a score of 53 out of 100, based on 21 critics, indicating “mixed or average” reviews.
Despite the mixed critical response, the cast’s performances have been widely praised. Julianne Moore gives a tightly coiled performance, full of quiet anguish and understated strength, not playing a victim so much as a woman who’s learned to survive by keeping her pain close and her joy at arm’s length.
Despite a good cast that includes Fiona Shaw, the story descended into implausible melodrama. However, Moore, Gleeson, and Shaw deliver strong performances that anchor the film.
Production Details
Filming Locations
Principal photography commenced in New Jersey in May 2023, under the working title Wildvale, and concluded in late June, with filming locations including Hunterdon County and Morris County. Production also occurred at the Underwater Stage at Pinewood Studios.
The film’s setting is southern Pennsylvania, but all location shooting took place in New Jersey, with specific scenes filmed in Stockton, Clinton, and Lambertville.
Runtime and Rating
The film runs 104 minutes (1 hour 44 minutes) and carries an R rating for language throughout, some violence, and drug material.
Character Relationships and Themes
Mother-Daughter Dynamic
The toxic yet loving relationship between Kate and Claire forms the heart of Echo Valley. Kate’s grief over losing her wife Patty makes her vulnerable to Claire’s manipulation, yet her maternal instinct compels her to protect her daughter at any cost.
Claire, aware that her mother would cover for her, manipulated her into disposing of the remains. This betrayal tests the limits of Kate’s devotion while revealing the destructive nature of Claire’s addiction.
Supporting Character Roles
Leslie Oliver (Fiona Shaw) serves as Kate’s closest friend and confidante, representing the supportive lesbian community that rallies around Kate during her darkest moments. Richard Garrett (Kyle MacLachlan), Kate’s ex-husband, provides financial assistance despite his frustration with Kate’s enabling behavior toward Claire.
Jackie Lyman (Domhnall Gleeson) enters the story as a threatening presence who exploits Kate’s desperate situation. Jackie drugs Kate by sticking her with a hypodermic needle and later threatens to extort Kate over her disposal of the body.
Twists and Revelations
Without revealing all the plot details, Echo Valley includes several twists that change the audience’s understanding of events. Kate comes up with a plot to burn down the barn for insurance money, with Jackie temporarily staying in the apartment above the barn, posing as Kate’s newly-hired farmhand.
Kate, with Leslie’s help, retrieves Greg’s body from the lake and places it in the barn’s apartment after starting the fire, effectively framing Jackie. This reveals Kate’s resourcefulness and moral complexity, showing how far she’ll go to protect herself and her daughter.
Cast Chemistry and Performances
The ensemble cast works effectively together despite the film’s narrative challenges. Domhnall Gleeson and Fiona Shaw bolster Moore’s riveting turn, though Sydney Sweeney has less to do than expected despite being billed as the second lead.
Moore’s performance anchors the film, conveying Kate’s grief, determination, and moral struggle with subtlety and depth. Gleeson brings menace to his role as Jackie, while Shaw provides warmth and loyalty as Leslie.
Where to Watch Echo Valley
Echo Valley is available for streaming on Apple TV+ following its theatrical release. Subscribers can watch the complete film featuring the entire cast’s performances.
Comparing Echo Valley to Other Thrillers
The film shares thematic similarities with other recent dramas exploring addiction and family dysfunction. Brad Ingelsby’s previous work, “Mare of Easttown,” also examined small-town Pennsylvania life and featured Kate Winslet in a similarly complex maternal role.
Other comparable films include “Sharp Objects” with Amy Adams, “Winter’s Bone” with Jennifer Lawrence, and “Beautiful Boy” with Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet—all exploring family relationships tested by addiction and trauma.
Cast Members’ Previous Collaborations
This marks the first collaboration between Julianne Moore and Sydney Sweeney, bringing together two generations of talented actresses. Moore and Kyle MacLachlan previously appeared in different projects but bring a believable divorced-couple dynamic to Echo Valley.
Director Michael Pearce works with this cast for the first time, though several actors have worked with producer Ridley Scott’s production company on previous projects.
Future Projects for the Cast
Following Echo Valley, the cast members continue pursuing diverse projects. Julianne Moore remains one of Hollywood’s most respected actresses, while Sydney Sweeney’s career trajectory continues upward with multiple film and television projects in development.
Domhnall Gleeson balances independent films with major studio productions, and Fiona Shaw continues her acclaimed work in both theater and screen. The visibility from Echo Valley adds to each actor’s impressive portfolio.
Conclusion
The cast of Echo Valley brings together accomplished performers who elevate the material beyond its narrative limitations. Julianne Moore, Sydney Sweeney, Domhnall Gleeson, Kyle MacLachlan, and Fiona Shaw lead the ensemble in this exploration of maternal love, addiction, and moral compromise.
Despite the film’s flaws, Moore’s committed performance and the supporting cast’s strong work make Echo Valley worth watching for those interested in character-driven psychological thrillers.
The film addresses the opioid crisis affecting American communities through the lens of one mother’s desperate attempts to save her daughter. While the plot may strain credibility at times, the cast’s authentic performances ground the story in emotional truth.
For viewers seeking a thriller that examines complex family dynamics and the devastating impact of addiction, the Echo Valley cast delivers compelling work that makes the film a worthwhile viewing experience.
Frequently Asked Questions About Echo Valley Cast
Q: Who plays Kate Garrett in Echo Valley? A: Academy Award winner Julianne Moore plays Kate Garrett, the horse trainer and mother at the center of the story.
Q: Who is Sydney Sweeney’s character in Echo Valley? A: Sydney Sweeney plays Claire Garrett, Kate’s troubled daughter who is a drug addict.
Q: Who plays the villain in Echo Valley? A: Domhnall Gleeson plays Jackie Lyman, delivering a chilling performance as the film’s antagonist.
Q: What is Echo Valley about? A: Echo Valley follows a horse trainer who, while living a quiet life on a Pennsylvania farm, must aid her daughter who has come to her in an alarming state.
Q: Where can I watch Echo Valley? A: Echo Valley is available for streaming on Apple TV+ after its theatrical release on June 6, 2025.
Q: Who directed Echo Valley? A: Echo Valley is directed by Michael Pearce and written by Brad Ingelsby.
Q: How long is Echo Valley? A: The film runs 104 minutes (1 hour 44 minutes) and carries an R rating.
Q: Who plays Kate’s ex-husband in Echo Valley? A: Kyle MacLachlan plays Richard Garrett, Kate’s ex-husband and attorney.
Q: Who is Fiona Shaw’s character? A: Fiona Shaw plays Leslie Oliver, Kate’s loyal friend who serves as emotional support throughout the film.
Q: What are the reviews for Echo Valley? A: The film received mixed reviews, with 51% positive on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 53 out of 100.
This article about the Cast of Echo Valley was last updated November 5, 2025, with accurate information about the actors, characters, and their performances in this Apple TV+ thriller.
