Maddie’s Secret (2025)

dir John Early

Originally watched on August 19, 2026.

Oh Maddie. Maddie, Maddie, Maddie. I love her.

I’m like Deena in this. Completely enraptured by Maddie’s magnetism. Empathetic. Intrigued. Attracted..? Ok, y’all.

I think John Early accomplished something beautiful here when it comes to the delicate balance between earnest emotion and campy comedy. Going into this I expected louder beats, maybe even some tastefully obnoxious writing, but no! This was real and beautiful and sometimes silly, but never in a way that pokes fun at Maddie. She is human. She is all of us! Let’s all stop and appreciate how crazy it is to create a character that you imprint upon so immediately. Seriously within the opening sequence (beautifully shot, I love LA), I already fell totally head over heels for Maddie. She really is perfection, which makes it even more devastating to watch her struggle.

I struggle to call this one “fun” because it’s really not. It’s enjoyable, yes, but it definitely demands more respect than something like The Wrong Girls, which is overwhelmingly silly, campy, simple fun. Thank you, John Early! I hope he keeps creating.