From the article by Claire Donner:
The name Ti West has become synonymous with indie horror. He first drew serious attention with his 2009 hit House of the Devil, and the recent success of the X trilogy has firmly established his dominance in the genre. However, many fans may have missed the 2016 release of a Western called In a Valley of Violence, a Blumhouse production starring Ethan Hawke and John Travolta. Its quiet reception does not reflect its quality — In a Valley of Violence is an exciting piece of Americana that can delight established fans, and attract new ones.
The horrormeister’s first Western emerged amid a smattering of TV gigs including episodes of Scream and The Exorcist. No one on the outside would have guessed that between 2013’s found footage feature The Sacrament and the 2022 arrival of X, West would delve into a neglected genre with the help of Hollywood stars. In a Valley of Violence is a lean, mean cross between John Wick and High Plains Drifter that is as funny as it is brutaland well worth a watch for West devotees.
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In a Valley of Violence tells a grim tale about remorseful thugs, disgraced soldiers, and ordinary folks doing what they must to survive. However, Ti West’s crackling dialog and his charming cast soften its edges with lots of comedic charm. Taissa Farmiga and Karen Gillan have terrific chemistry as a pair of bickering sisters and genre stalwart Larry Fessenden gives good death as usual. The standout, however, is second-stringer Tommy Nohilly as Tubby, who stops in the middle of an apocalyptic gun battle to deliver a righteous speech about being fat-shamed by the rest of his gang. This genre-bending Western really has a little something for everyone.
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