Domhnall Gleeson continues his remarkable streak of commanding performances with ECHO VALLEY, proving once again why he remains one of cinema’s most compelling character actors. Fresh off his turn in Guy Ritchie’s FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH, Gleeson delivers a masterclass in controlled menace as Jackie Lawson, a drug dealer whose relentless pursuit of payment becomes the catalyst for an extraordinary family drama.
ECHO VALLEY centers on Kate Garretson, played with devastating authenticity by Julianne Moore, who struggles to maintain her horse farm while drowning in grief over her wife’s tragic death. When her estranged daughter Claire, a chronic addict portrayed with raw vulnerability by Sydney Sweeney, arrives desperate for money after yet another relapse, their fractured relationship becomes entangled with dangerous criminal elements. Kate’s ex-husband Richard, played by Kyle MacLachlan in a brief but impactful role, refuses to enable their daughter’s addiction, leaving Kate to navigate the treacherous waters alone.
This is where Gleeson’s Jackie enters the picture, transforming what could have been a straightforward addiction drama into something far more sinister and complex. Gleeson crafts Jackie as a predator who operates with chilling efficiency, demanding payment for missing drugs he claims Claire and Richard are responsible for. His portrayal is so viscerally unsettling that audiences will find themselves wanting to reach through the screen to confront him, the hallmark of truly exceptional villain work.
What elevates Gleeson’s performance beyond typical antagonist territory is his ability to make Jackie’s greed feel both calculated and desperate. He doesn’t play the character as a cartoon villain but as someone whose complete disregard for human cost makes him all the more terrifying. His scenes with Moore crackle with tension, creating some of the year’s most electrifying acting exchanges. These moments showcase why Gleeson has become such a sought-after performer, capable of holding his own against one of cinema’s most accomplished actresses.
The film benefits tremendously from Fiona Shaw’s presence as Kate’s friend, whose storyline provides crucial emotional grounding for the increasingly dangerous situations. Shaw, as always, commands attention in every scene, strengthening the film’s final act with her nuanced performance. Director Brad Ingelsby uses these character dynamics to subvert audience expectations, taking the story in directions that feel both surprising and inevitable.
Moore anchors the film with a performance that captures the dual nature of grief, mourning both those who have died and those we cannot save. Sweeney continues to prove her dramatic range by taking on challenging material that pushes beyond her comfort zone. But it’s Gleeson who provides the film’s dark heart, creating a character whose presence lingers long after the credits roll.
ECHO VALLEY succeeds by operating on multiple levels simultaneously, functioning as both an emotional exploration of family dysfunction and a taut thriller about ordinary people pushed beyond their limits. Gleeson’s recent career trajectory demonstrates his remarkable ability to elevate every project he touches, whether in ensemble pieces or smaller character-driven dramas like this one.
The film opens in theaters on June 6 and streams on Apple TV+ beginning June 13, offering audiences the chance to witness Gleeson’s latest tour de force performance in what promises to be one of the year’s most gripping dramas.
📺 NEW TRAILER ALERT 📺
Premiering Aug 28, THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB follows four retirees who spend their time solving cold case murders for fun - based on @misterosman’s bestselling novel.
Visit irishfilmtv.com for more!
🎭 LEGEND RETURNS TO THE STAGE 🎭
From Mad-Eye Moody to Uncle Pastuzo, Brendan Gleeson has captivated us on screen for decades. Now he`s making his WEST END DEBUT in THE WEIR! Dublin first (Aug 8-Sep 6) then London`s Harold Pinter Theatre (Sep 12-Dec 6).
More at irishfilmtv.com.
🎭 From beloved DERRY GIRL to Chekhov star!
Saoirse-Monica Jackson is trading the screen for the stage in Kabosh`s bold new adaptation of THREE SISTERS at @gaiety_theatre.
Visit irishfilmtv.com for ticket links!
Liam Neeson just crushed it as Frank Drebin Jr. in THE NAKED GUN and now he`s diving headfirst into horror comedy with COLD STORAGE.
At 72, Neeson is still choosing the wildest projects and we`re absolutely here for it. COLD STORAGE hits theaters next year!
Watch the crazy trailer at irishfilmtv.com.
NEW trailer alert! 🎬 From STAR WARS galaxies to Ohio newsrooms!
Domhnall Gleeson is trading his General Hux uniform for editor-in-chief duties in THE PAPER - @peacock!`s brilliant new spin on THE OFFICE universe.
Premiering Sep 4, watch trailer at irishfilmtv.com.
From the Scottish Highlands to the boxing ring 🥊✨
Caitriona Balfe trades tartan for training gloves in THE CUT, Sean Ellis` brutal psychological boxing drama.
Our OUTLANDER queen steps WAY outside her comfort zone as Caitlin - wife, trainer, and witness to Orlando Bloom`s obsessed fighter spiraling toward self-destruction.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
🎵 "Music to scare priests and politicians" 🎵
@celtic_utopia is shaking up everything you thought you knew about Irish folk music. This isn`t your typical Celtic sound— it`s raw, rebellious, and revolutionary.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
DERRY GIRLS and GAME OF THRONES star Ian McElhinney hits the stage at @theeverymancork!
Running until Aug 10th - STONES IN HIS POCKETS has heart, humor, and a Hollywood ending that`ll leave you grinning! 🎭
More at irishfilmtv.com.
Hollywood heavyweights Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander as... otherworldly beings? 👀
Na Hong-jin is BACK! After 10 years since THE WAILING left us speechless, the master of psychological horror returns with HOPE - hitting theaters next summer!
More at irishfilmtv.com.
🎬 From "I will find you" to "I will make you laugh" - Liam Neeson is trading his particular set of skills for punchlines in THE NAKED GUN!
Is this Neeson`s Leslie Nielsen moment? Could we be witnessing the birth of comedy`s newest unlikely hero?
More at irishfilmtv.com.
Andrew Scott`s BLUE MOON trailer released!
Shot in Ireland, this Richard Linklater gem pairs Scott with Ethan Hawke for a 1943 Broadway drama that`s already being called a masterpiece. Scott plays composer Richard Rodgers in what critics are calling his most nuanced performance yet 🎵
Watch trailer at irishfilmtv.com.
🎩✨ Daryl McCormack is trading modern drama for Regency romance! The GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE star has officially joined Netflix`s PRIDE AND PREJUDICE adaptation as the charming Mr. Bingley 💕
From intimate character studies to Jane Austen`s ballrooms - this Irish talent continues to prove his incredible range! He`ll be swooning alongside Emma Corrin, Jack Lowden, and Olivia Colman in what promises to be THE period drama event of 2025 👑
More at irishfilmtv.com.
🔥 @sarahbolger is bringing Irish fire to Hell`s Kitchen! 🔥
The MAYANS MC star just landed a killer role in MGM+`s THE WESTIES - a gritty crime series about NYC`s most notorious Irish gang.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
🌊 WOKEN: When you wake up on a remote Irish island with no memory, surrounded by "loved ones" you don`t recognize... and that`s just the beginning 😱
@mr_friel `s atmospheric thriller serves up classic ingredients: windswept Irish cliffs, flickering candlelight, and Maxine Peake being suspiciously kind.
Stream now on @mubi.
🎬 Paul Mescal is about to make us all cry again... and we`re here for it 😭
From NORMAL PEOPLE to gladiator to heartbreaking folk song collector – is there anything this man can`t do?
THE HISTORY OF SOUND hits theaters September 19. Consider this your tissue warning ⚠️
Trailer now at irishfilmtv.com.
