Comedian John Early’s directorial debut, ostensibly a pastiche of basic-cable TV movies, is not a parody, or a satire but a devastatingly sincere high melodrama with a studied queer sensibility. Early plays the eponymous Maddie, a dishwasher at a food content production company who is sweet, hard-working, and a brilliant chef in her own right. One day, she finds herself a viral star with the release of a signature vegetarian recipe. But she soon begins to unravel. The cast includes comedic stars including Kate Berlant, Vanessa Bayer, and Connor O’Malley, and the dialogue is written and performed with the kind of hyper-expressive broadness that defines the after-school specials which inspired it. But it is surprisingly tender as well. (dir. John Early, U.S., 2025, 98 min.)
“Packed with visual gags and a cast of gifted comedic actors, Maddie’s Secret straddles the line between comedy and melodrama, creating a wholly unique cinematic experience.” –Hollywood Reporter