Although American film director Ti West is best known for his brand of horror cinema, fans of the X franchise should check out his underrated 2016 western, In a Valley of Violence. Not only does the film feature the graphic carnage West is known for, but it also marks one of the few non-horror outings in West’s filmmaking evolution. Since then, West has remained in the horror genre while branching out into TV dramas via The Resident, Soundtrack, and, most recently, Poker Face.
With West now in pre-production for the new dark comedy Prime Video TV series Bloodlust, it’s worth watching In A Valley of Violence to see how far he has come as a director and where his talents are headed. It’s also worth witnessing Ethan Hawke’s commanding performance opposite John Travolta, both of whom shine despite rarely starring in Westerns.
What Is ‘In a Valley of Violence’ About?
Influenced by High Plains Drifter and First Blood, In a Valley of Violence pairs Ti West with Ethan Hawke and horror producer Jason Blum. The low-budget western centers on Paul (Hawke), a drifter wandering through New Mexico with his dog, Abbie, in the 1870s. Paul arrives in Denton, a moldering hub run by U.S. Marshal Clyde Martin (Travolta). When Paul is ambushed by Clyde’s posse for being an Indian War deserter, a tragedy ensues that leads Paul on a gorily vengeful warpath.
Lean, mean, and dosed with absurd humor, In a Valley of Violence is at its very best when Hawke and Travolta share the screen. Despite being a low-budget Blumhouse Production, the two supremely talented and experienced movie stars give it their all and never pull back for a second. Although the story feels familiar, it’s more about the execution than the originality, with classic tropes from American and spaghetti westerns informing the dramatic tone and visual style.
Among the movie’s gripping elements is the rapport between Paul and Mary-Ann (Taisa Farmiga), the sister of Clyde’s soon-to-be daughter-in-law. Paul and Mary-Ann form a strong alliance after her would-be brother-in-law, Gilly (James Ransone), picks a fight with Paul and orders his men to drive him out of town.
Meanwhile, Mary-Ann’s sister, Ellen (Karen Gillan), vows to remain by Gilly’s side after revealing she is pregnant with his child. The shifting family dynamics and unlikely alliances turn an otherwise formulaic revenge western into something more unpredictable and worth seeing. Ti West fans will appreciate his evolving filmmaking acumen, while Hawke fans will revel in a solid, rare western movie performance.
Ethan Hawke’s Western Pedigree
Before In a Valley of Violence, Hawke starred in Richard Linklater’s western, The Newtown Boys. After starring in Valley of Violence, Hawke appeared in The Kid and The Good Lord Bird, both of which featured western tropes and tenets. Ironically, the biggest Western project of Hawke’s career, The Magnificent Seven, was also released in 2016 and dwarfed In a Valley of Violence as a result.
A star-studded affair led by Denzel Washington, The Magnificent Seven significantly outshot In A Valley of Violence at the box office. The former was released widely and grossed over $162 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo), while the latter had a limited release and earned a paltry $62,000 (via Box Office Mojo). As such, many were robbed of Hawke’s powerful leading turn, anchoring In a Valley of Violence, which is arguably stronger than his supporting performance in The Magnificent Seven.
Since making his only Western to date, West has returned to the horror genre, where he reinvented his brand with The X series, including X, Pearl, and MaXXXine. Up next for West is a dark comedy TV series called Bloodlust.
Everything To Know About Ti West’s Bloodlust
Although In a Valley of Violence was a commercial failure, it earned enough positive reviews among critics to keep Ti West’s career going. The film holds a 78% Certified Fresh Rotten Tomatoes rating and a 64 Metascore, with many critics lauding the performances and spaghetti western send-ups. While the poor financial numbers may have discouraged West from making another movie until X in 2022, he’s returned with remarkable aplomb compared to where his career started.
After directing the Kid Cudi music video for “Neverland” and helming an episode of Peacock’s Poker Face in 2025, West now turns his sights to Bloodlust, a new dark comedy series for Prime Video created by pop sensation Halsey. West and Halsey previously worked together on MaXXXine, in which the pop singer played the role of Tabby Martin.
As for Bloodlust, Variety reported in December 2024 that:
“Halsey is set to serve as the creator, writer, and executive producer of “Bloodlust” for Amazon, but is not going to star in the show. Ti West is attached to direct and executive produce, with Mark Friedman onboard as executive producer and showrunner. Anthony Li, Halsey’s manager, also executive produces. Amazon MGM Studios will produce.”
Although plot details remain shrouded, Bloodlust marks another evolutionary step in West’s career. For those who enjoy the X trilogy and want to see how far West has come as an indie, low-budget filmmaker, watching In a Valley of Violence before Bloodlust will give them an appreciation for his creative growth.
Meanwhile, those who want to see Ethan Hawke in a bigger role in The Magnificent Seven should give In a Valley of Violence a look at what’s arguably his best performance in a western.
Source link
Add Comment