In a unique spin on the topic, John Early‘s directorial debut “Maddie’s Secret” isn’t your typical serious warning about bulimia. Though it doesn’t downplay the disorder’s severity, the focus lies more in its portrayal throughout film history – particularly in cheesy, made-for-TV movies from the ’90s, which Early humorously satirizes for their campiness, clumsy dialogue, and overly dramatic narrative. The character Maddie, played earnestly by Early, grapples with a disordered relationship with food that’s intensified by her profession. She is an on-screen host and recipe developer for “Gourmaybe,” a digital food media brand resembling Bon Appétit. In this realm of online content, food is styled to maximize appeal, catering to viewers who find satisfaction in watching someone they aspire to be indulge in delicious food they cannot access. Early combines the absurdity of this situation for comedic effect, yet pushes it so far that it swings back to evoking genuine emotion.
A significant portion of this is accomplished through acting and cinematography. The film portrays Maddie’s complicated relationship with food by depicting her looking at and consuming it in a passionate yet unhealthy manner. This begins subtly, as the meals she prepares, initially made to appear appealing, leave traces of sauce or frosting on her face due to her eating them too hastily – something many people can likely relate to after skipping a meal. However, the film soon progresses to a scene of binge-eating, where Maddie aggressively stuffs food into her mouth in a dimly lit kitchen. She forces it down by drinking milk so quickly that it drips off her chin. This scene is shot up close and in a way that could be described as borderline explicit, with sound design so intense that it could trigger a strong response in someone with misophonia.
The movie portrays food in a different light from the vibrant and enticing presentations seen on influencer’s Instagram recipe videos. Instead, it appears as though food is viewed through Maddie’s perspective, emphasizing its alluring yet guilt-inducing nature. The lighting of each dish is subtly dim, making them seem less appealing and more ominous. In one scene, Maddie prepares a rotel dip for her job, but her boss, portrayed by Connor O’Malley, spoils it by dipping his fingers into it. Later on, Maddie attempts to boost her social media following by filming herself eating an unappetizing viral burrito from a car wash, which is accompanied by distressing sounds of chewing that intensify the overall tension. Despite occasional humor, the second half of the movie often feels reminiscent of contemporary horror films where the main antagonist is an abstract concept, such as trauma – or in this case, food itself.
In the film, Maddie’s character checks into a hospital for her eating disorder treatment. One day, during mealtime in the dining hall, everyone suddenly sings happy birthday to another patient, causing a fuss. As nurses hand a cupcake to the birthday girl, who is also a fellow patient of Maddie’s, an embarrassed expression crosses her face. Instead of being filmed with the usual distortion common in this movie’s food scenes, the cupcake is shot normally. However, the girl reacts strongly, crying upon seeing it. This dramatic reaction to what appears to be an innocent gesture is reminiscent of TV movies, as intended by the director, Early. Despite this, the cupcake looks unappetizing.
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2025-09-06 23:54