Maddie's Secret (2025)

Maddie's Secret is comedian, writer, and actor John Early’s critically acclaimed directorial debut starring himself as Maddie, a plucky dishwasher who leaps to viral superstardom at a trendy food content creation company. While her life seems picturesque — complete with an adoring husband (Eric Rahill), ride-or-die best friend (Kate Berlant) and a cupboard full of woman-owned, ethically-sourced chili crisp to boot — mounting professional pressures threaten to reawaken a hidden secret from her troubled past. A pitch-perfect blend of satire, melodrama, daring tonal shifts and intimate performances, the film marks a bold new voice in contemporary cinema.

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You may know John Early from TV shows like Search Party, his-stand up specials Would It K*ll You to Laugh? and Now More Than Ever, or from wonderful films like Stress Positions. Or maybe you know him from his iconic YouTube video where he and Cole Escola do a shot-for-shot recreation a scene from Showgirls. Early has made a name for himself over the last ten years as one of American comedy's best and brightest. Now, with his debut film, we can add auteur to the list 🥹

It's inspired by the likes of TV movies, Douglas Sirk, Paul Verhoeven, John Waters, Instagram food recipe videos, and Alfred Hitchcock's Marnie. Maddie's Secret shines as a uniquely wonderful melodrama. A beautiful balancing act of comedic and dramatic tone, Early's film has to be seen to be believed. The cast is stacked with some of the best comedians of our day: Kate Berlant, Eric Rahill, Connor O'Malley, Claudia O' Dougherty, Vanessa Bayer, and of course John Early!

What's more, we are pleased as punch to be bringing this movie to Richmond, VA for Art House Theater Day, an annual program of Art House Convergence 🥰

We hope to see you there! 💕

— Lewis Peterson, Hard Light Cinema