Her directorial debut, Reed Morano’s Meadowland, takes a brave look at two people in deep pain. 

They struggle with the darkness, which captivates one’s attention like crazy.

The first scene sets up the story and the movie’s overall tone.  We meet a married couple, played brilliantly by Olivia Wilde and Luke Wilson. They are on a family trip and lose their young son. Abduction is what everyone assumes happened to the child.  The story follows the aftermath of their loss, one year later. Two people who were once in love are now individually alone.  The marriage crumbles from the inside while starting at the edges.  The mother wanders to the subway in the middle of the night, her maternal love feeling empty.  The father is a New York City cop who turns cold, trying to resolve his issues at a support group but failing even to make that work.  They live in the past with only memories barely keeping them awake from the tragedy.

This is a very sad movie, and as a parent, a hard movie to watch.  Yet the performances are beautifully executed and capture the melancholy and carelessness that follow the loss of a loved one. The supporting cast, including Elizabeth Moss, Giovanni Ribisi, and John Leguizamo, offers deep, rich colors of despair.

Reed Morano, who is known in the industry as a cinematographer for such notable movies as Frozen River and The Magic of Belle Isle, takes the viewers on an unbelievable and unforgettable journey as she guides these tormented characters.

Meadowland is beautifully shot and an expertly crafted movie, yet it is sad. Your mindset needs to be ready for a downer because the subject matter will turn your stomach inside out with emotion and fear of losing your own children.