Maddie's Secret

Maddie’s Secret, comedian John Early’s debut feature, masterfully blends the campy tone and aesthetic of a 1980s movie-of-the-week with a deeply affecting portrait of a young woman struggling with an eating disorder.

From the outside, Maddie Ralph (John Early) seems to have it all: a solid partner (Eric Rahill); a career she loves creating food-related content; and a supportive, loving best friend (Kate Berlant). But beneath this carefully curated life lies a dark history of self-harm and disordered eating that now threatens to resurface. As her struggle inches closer to the surface, Maddie enters a treatment program where she is forced to confront the person at the root of many of her issues: her mother (Kristen Johnston). Expertly balancing sharp comedy with emotional depth, and elevated by nuanced, pitch-perfect performances from some of today’s most compelling comedic actors, the film is an experience you truly have to see to believe.

Content Advisory: This film includes depictions of eating disorders and related trauma, specifically bulimia nervosa.