Echo Valley on Apple TV+ is a slow-burning, intense thriller with a strong emotional core. The movie, which was directed by Michael Pearce and written by Brad Ingelsby, is about a mother’s unwavering love for her daughter and how that love can both save and hurt her. Kate Garretson, played by Julianne Moore, is very private and Sydney Sweeney, who plays her estranged daughter Claire, give great performances in the movie. Also joining the cast are Domhnall Gleeson (as Jackie Lawson), Kyle MacLachlan, and Fiona Shaw.
WHAT IS ECHO VALLEY ABOUT?
Echo Valley is set on a peaceful but spooky farm in Pennsylvania and tells the story of Kate Garretson, a woman who is still grieving the death of her wife Patty. She trains horses by herself during the day, but her life is turned upside down when her daughter Claire shows up out of the blue. Claire, who hasn’t been seen in months, comes back scared and covered in blood, saying she’s in big trouble.
It turns out that Claire and her boyfriend Ryan were selling drugs as the story goes on. They killed a customer named Greg when they tried to cut drugs with fentanyl. Claire tries very hard to hide what happened by tricking her mother into helping her get rid of Greg’s body by telling her mother she killed Ryan in self-defense.
What follows is a harrowing sequence of lies, cover-ups, and moral dilemmas. Kate, pushed to her limits, stages a fire at her barn, frames Jackie for the murder, and orchestrates the perfect crime to protect her daughter. In the end, Kate is left with a final choice—whether or not to open the door for Claire again after all that has happened.
WHERE WAS ECHO VALLEY FILMED?
Although Echo Valley is set in southeastern Pennsylvania—the film was primarily shot in New Jersey and Buckinghamshire, England. With the working title Wildvale, principal photography began in late May 2023 and concluded by the end of June.
The film’s haunting atmosphere owes much to its carefully chosen locations. These diverse settings—from rustic farms to deep lakes and historic boroughs—echo the themes of secrecy, danger, and emotional entrapment that define the story.
MORRIS COUNTY, NEW JERSEY
The filmmakers also used Morris County, especially the borough of Rockaway, for several outdoor scenes. A key location was Mount Hope Pond, a scenic body of water located within Mount Hope Historical Park on Teabo Road. This site was used to film the dramatic moment when Kate dumps the body into the lake.
The setting had to be believable and atmospheric, reinforcing the emotional weight of the scene. The tranquil but eerie waters added a visual metaphor for the secrets Kate and Claire were trying to bury. The crew even made a casting call for local teens with lifeguard experience to enhance authenticity in the pond scenes.
Interestingly, Rockaway was also used in the upcoming adaptation of It Ends With Us, which speaks to its growing popularity as a filming destination.
HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY
One of the main shooting locations was Hunterdon County, a scenic area in western New Jersey known for its farmlands and preserved landscapes. Towns like Stockton, Lambertville, and Clinton were used during filming. A farmhouse on Seabrook Road in Stockton appears to be the stand-in for the Echo Valley farm where Kate and Claire live.
This rural setting was integral in portraying Kate’s isolated life. To film the horse training sequences, the production team even sent out casting calls for girls aged 10–14 with horse-riding experience. Sydney Sweeney trained with a horse named Moose for the part and formed a real bond during filming. Speaking to Vanity Fair, she shared, “I loved it. It made me want to have a farm and have a bunch of horses.”
HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY
Additional urban scenes were shot in Jersey City, located in Hudson County. This vibrant port city is famous for its proximity to the Statue of Liberty and other landmarks like Liberty Science Center, Van Wagenen House, and Lincoln Park. Though brief, the scenes filmed here added contrast to the otherwise rural setting of the film—highlighting the tension between Claire’s chaotic lifestyle and Kate’s quiet, rural life.
Jersey City’s rich architecture and cinematic skyline also helped reflect the broader world of crime and consequences lurking just beyond Echo Valley’s fences.
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, ENGLAND
For scenes that required controlled environments, the production team traveled overseas to Buckinghamshire, England. Filming took place at Pinewood Studios in the village of Iver Heath. The studio is renowned for housing major film productions.
Julianne Moore filmed underwater scenes here, diving into a massive 6-meter-deep tank designed specifically for aquatic filming. She described the experience as intense and challenging: “They push you all the way down, and you do all your acting…It was definitely a challenge for me.”
Pinewood Studios offers top-tier production facilities, including 30 flexible stages and three backlots. The use of this world-class studio gave Echo Valley the cinematic polish it needed, especially for sequences that couldn’t be shot safely or practically on location.
Be sure to visit netfilming.com again soon for more updates, behind-the-scenes stories, and filming location breakdowns.
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