'In a Valley of Violence' Film Review: A Bloody and Brutal Pulp Western Julian Roman - MovieWeb | |
go to original October 21, 2016 |
In a Valley of Violence Official Trailer (2016) Ethan Hawke, John Travolta (FilmTrailerZone)
Ti West's In a Valley of Violence is a pulp western steeped in classic archetypes. It's more Quentin Tarantino than Sergio Leone, bloody and brutal with snappy dialogue. Producer Jason Blum, king of micro-budget horror films, shows that he's got a little sand in his craw with this effort. The set-up is simple, really as straightforward as it gets; but the execution is damned entertaining. You just never mess with a man's dog, a mantra to live by on and off screen.
The setting is Denton, a God forsaken one-street town nestled in a border valley. A loner (Ethan Hawke) and his clever pooch are making their way to Mexico. He gets warned by a drunken preacher (Burn Gorman) to steer clear, but heads on into Denton anyway. He runs afoul of an upstart braggart (James Ransone) and his lawman father (John Travolta). A stop for whiskey and supplies quickly turns into a hellish pit of danger. His only ally, a fetching and rambunctious girl (Taissa Farmiga), chomping at the bit to get away herself.
In a Valley of Violence gives depth to characters that could have easily been cardboard cutouts. You have the mysterious stranger, corrupt sheriff, winsome girl, desperate for a better life; these are standards in all westerns. The difference here is that West has made them believable. This script adds complexity to the archetypes. I particularly liked the interaction with John Travolta and Ethan Hawke.
...Coming from Focus World and Blumhouse, In a Valley of Violence is a must see for any western fan. It's a small, character driven film, but certainly action packed, as its title clearly states. The acting is first rate with a sharp screenplay and outstanding direction by Ti West.
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Related: Ethan Hawke on Starring in Westerns: 'I'm Finally Old Enough' to Play a Cowboy (CNN)
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