Echo Valley

2025   Apple TV+

Rated:  R

Length:  I hr  44min

Drama ~ Thriller

Directed by:  Michael Pearce

Starring:  Julianne MooreSydney SweeneyDomhnall GleesonKyle MacLachlan, Edmund Donovan and Fiona Shaw.

How Far Will A Mother Go To Save Her Child?

Julianne Moore stars as Kate Garrettson who owns a horse farm in rural Pennsylvania. She trains horses, gives riding lessons and manages the farm by herself. Kate is dealing with the death of her wife, a divorce from the father of her daughter and her daughter who has serious difficulty dealing with life. Struggling to maintain her sanity and the farm she notices the hay barn has developed some serious roof issues. The contractor who does work for her tells her it is going to cost $9,000 to fix. Knowing she can’t afford to pay that, she reluctantly goes to see her Lawyer Ex-Husband Richard Garrettson (Kyle MacLachlan). Richard lives with his much younger Wife and young daughter in a very nice house. He chastises Kate for not making the farm profitable and tells her that their daughter Claire (Sydney Sweeney) showed up on his doorstep last week begging for money and that their daughter is a complete mess. Richard tells her that she is enabling Claire and something needs to be done, she needs professional help. Reluctantly he writes a $9,000 check and gives it to Kate.

Several days later Claire shows up at the ranch and tells her mother that she is in trouble and needs help. Kate lets her stay and later Claire’s boyfriend Ryan Sinclair (Edmund Donovan ) shows up and causes a scene. He tells Kate that Claire threw all his belongings in the river and there was $10,000 worth of drugs in his duffel bag that belonged to someone else. Frantic he wants Claire to help him find it or his life may be in jeopardy. The next day Jackie Lawson (Domhnall Gleeson) shows up with Ryan and starts harassing Claire, threatening her and then starts getting physical punching Ryan and grabbing Claire. He demands that they give him his $10,000 worth of drugs or the money. Kate hears the commotion and comes running, confronting Ryan and telling him to get off her property. Kate succeeds but with Ryan promising that he will be back and that until he gets the drugs or the money, there will be nothing but trouble.

And that is the beginning of the twisted tale that evolves as Kate grapples with her daughter’s new trouble. Nothing is as it seems moving forward. There are more plot twists than a braided pretzel, more than the Snake River. And at every turn of the trail, just when you think you have got it all figured out, you realize that we are all getting played. Every character, everyone watching the movie, you just can’t see what’s coming until you realize that the tables have been turned on us all, even the characters in the movie. It is a fantastic thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Who did what? To who? Or did they? And how far will Kate go to protect her daughter and keep her out of trouble? Kate just got a $9,000 check from Richard, should she use it to pay off the drug dealer Jackie? And will that be the end of it? I am here to tell you that she might and if she does it might just be the beginning of a very thrilling ride wondering what happens next!

I though this was a great movie. Julianne Moore does not disappoint in her role as Kate who will go to great lengths to take care of her daughter. Sydney Sweeney is lovable and yet thoroughly spoiled as Claire, strung out on drugs and her junkie boyfriend, and at times you just want to slap the devil out of her. Domhnall Gleeson is absolutely twisted as Jackie Lawson, you want to hate him he is so good at being evil. I have to say that Julianne Moore shines as the mom who will do anything to help her daughter. And smarter than the fox in the henhouse while keeping a straight poker face. Well Done, I say. Should you watch it? If you like Julianne Moore, A Good Thriller, Domhnall Geeson and or Sydney Sweeney….Yes, you should.

Grab a beverage

Make some popcorn

and Stream This Movie

On Apple TV+!



Fountain Of Youth

2025   Apple TV+

Rated:  PG-13

Length:  2 hr  5min

Action ~ Adventure ~ Mystery

Directed by:  Guy Ritchie

Starring:  John KrasinskiNatalie PortmanEiza González, Domhnall Gleeson, Arian MoayedLaz AlonsoCarmen Ejogo, and Stanley Tucci.

Life Is About The Adventure

Fountain of Youth promises a whirlwind globetrotting treasure hunt packed with family drama, ancient mysteries, and the seductive allure of eternal life. At its core, this film is about two estranged siblings, Luke (John Krasinski) and Charlotte (Natalie Portman), who reluctantly reunite to chase a mythical treasure that could change their lives forever. Luke, the reckless adventurer son of a famed archaeologist, drags his sister out of her comfortable but squeezed life as a museum curator in London. Their quest? To find the legendary Fountain of Youth, funded by a terminally ill billionaire whose motives become as murky as the clues they follow through Ireland, Switzerland, and Egypt. Along the way, they dodge international law enforcement, clash with a secretive group sworn to protect the fountain, and confront the chasms that years of separation have carved between them.

Guy Ritchie delivers his signature brisk pacing with visually arresting chase scenes and fight sequences, creating a sleek adventure movie that never asks you to think too deeply. The script is littered with nods to classics like Indiana Jones, National Treasure, Uncharted and Tomb Raider,  making it feel comfortably familiar with a slightly different twist on the Treasure Hunt movie. John Krasinski and Natalie Portman deliver solid performances, their sibling chemistry thrust into sharp focus as the magical environment tests their resolve. Supporting roles, particularly from Domhnall Gleeson as the enigmatic benefactor, Esme Bianco (Eiza González) as a fierce guardian of the fountain, and Stanley Tucci as The Elder in charge of the guardians of the fountain add welcome unpredictability and energy.

While the movie channels the familiar thrills of treasure hunts past, this time it’s the special effects that truly steal the show. Guy Ritchie’s knack for lively pacing remains intact, but the VFX team brings an extra layer of wonder to the screen, especially when the action reaches the legendary fountain. Shimmering water, surreal bursts of color, and dazzling transformations create a spectacle that’s both magical and memorable. This climactic sequence isn’t just eye candy, it injects real energy and awe, elevating the stakes and reinforcing the film’s central theme of chasing the impossible. Stylistically, the costumes and soundtrack keep things vibrant and lively; a quirky J-pop track and lush floral patterns mark the film’s funnier and more flamboyant moments.

Fountain of Youth still leans on genre conventions and lighthearted family drama, but the special effects, especially in the fountain scenes, make this quest feel fresh again. For viewers who crave blockbuster magic, these moments transform the film from a pleasant diversion into something truly cinematic.

Give this adventure a go!

Don’t forget the popcorn!

Uncharted