VOD Review: In a Valley of Violence (2016)

"Not a Horror Movie."

Sure, In a Valley of Violence is directed by Ti West, -who has given us some Horror gems like The Innkeepers, House of the Devil, and The Sacrament- and it's bloody and violent enough in places, but this is a pure Western, through and through.

That's alright though, because Westerns are awesome (especially violent ones), and Ti West deserves to be able to branch out into other Genres if he wants to... especially if what comes of said branching out ends up being as enjoyable as In a Valley of Violence was.

In A Valley of Violence opens like many Westerns do, with a mysterious drifter and his faithful dog riding across the plains. In this case, Paul (the drifter) and Abbie (his dog) are hightailing it to Mexico, for a good reason which we wont spoil here. He should have been named Dusty though. Or maybe Sidewinder or something. Paul just doesn't seem very menacing.

THE BEST OF FRIENDS.

Their journey takes a fateful turn when Paul decides to stop off in the ramshackle frontier town of Denton, to re-supply and get him a whiskey. All drifters like whiskey. While trying his best to drink alone and brood, Paul ends up pissing off local deputy Gilly, who is a hot-head, and just so happens to be looking for a fight. After embarrassing Gilly, Paul is ushered out of town by John Travolta, who is both the town's Marshall and Gilly's father. Gilly and his men follow Paul, and do the unthinkable... which sets Paul on a course of bloody revenge.

THIS SON OF A BITCH RIGHT HERE...

Along the way, Paul also makes friends with a teenage innkeeper named Mary-Anne, whose sister just so happens to be Gilly's girlfriend, but since Mary-Anne hates Gilly, she agrees to help Paul get his revenge, but Paul won't let her because he doesn't want to taint her, but she insists and... oh never mind.

Just sit back and enjoy the madness.

WHAT A CUTE COUPLE.

In a Valley of Violence was a gritty western with a humorous bent that entertained the hell out of us. Its biggest asset is that as serious as it gets, it doesn't take itself too seriously... which oddly enough was the one issue that we had with the movie too. I like serious, gritty westerns, and the humorous tone of this one threw me at first, but grew on me after a while.

It's definitely a unique bird, as far as Westerns go. 

Ethan Hawke played the part of the drifter perfectly, and it was nice to see John Travolta getting a good role to chew on for a change, but it was Taissa Farmiga who absolutely stole the show in his one. There was something about Mini-Farmiga's character, and the way that she played her, that just made the movie electric whenever she was onscreen. She's a special talent, and she truly shines in this one.

The always cool James Ransone made for one hell of a perfect villain as well.

STONE COLD.

I kinda wish that the tone of the movie had been a bit more serious overall. It's all over the place at times, jumping back and forth between brutal and humorous, which threw me off a bit. 

EXPECTED HIM TO BE A BIT MEANER TOO. 

Why always the damn dog? WHY?!?

AT LEAST HE GOT TO ENJOY HIMSELF A BATH AND A WHORE BEFORE HE SCAMPERED OFF ACROSS THE RAINBOW BRIDGE.

Lots of good old fashioned violence in this one, hence the title.

IN A VALLEY OF IDIOT SONS.

Unless you count Larry Fessenden in a bathtub, there's no nudity in this one. 

WILL MINI-FARMIGA EVER GET NAKED ON FILM? THE WORLD WANTS TO KNOW.

A really solid, if oddly different, Western, In a Valley of Violence was fun from start to finish. The actors all swung for the fences in this one, and depending on your tolerance for overacting, you'll either love it or hate it.

Rent it, when you need a break from the normal.

B

In a Valley of Violence is available now on VOD, with a Blu-ray & DVD release on 12/27.

Mini-Farmiga and Karen Gillan make the old west look good.