ECHO VALLEY

How far will a mother go for her daughter, and does unconditional love outweigh betrayal? These two questions lie at heart of ‘Echo Valley,’ starring Julianne Moore as Kate, a grieving lesbian widower, and Sydney Sweeney as Claire, her drug-addicted daughter. Kate operates a horse agistment and riding center and is struggling financially. When Claire arrives seeking help in a desperate state, Kate sets aside her better judgment, and soon finds herself in a dangerous predicament with drug dealer Jackie (Domhnall Gleeson.) Moore’s acting talent isn’t enough to save this storyline from its absurdity. There’s one decent plot twist, then events become increasingly fanciful. Clare’s constant transgressions and Kate’s lack of boundaries are frustrating to watch. Everything is meh. Two stars from me for the fabulous Fiona Shaw as Kate’s best friend Les, and some beautiful horses.