Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
The story of a drifter named Paul who arrives in a small town seeking revenge on the thugs who murdered his friend. Sisters Mary Anne and Ellen, who run the town's hotel, help Paul in his quest for vengeance.
In a Valley of Violence is a competent but unremarkable Western revenge tale from Ti West. The plot is a well-worn drifter-seeks-vengeance framework with few surprises, and the film doesn't reinvent or meaningfully distinguish the genre. Ethan Hawke and John Travolta bring some watchable energy to their roles, lifting the acting above average. The cinematography captures adequate Western landscapes without standout visual ambition. The ending delivers satisfying if conventional closure. Overall a serviceable genre exercise that doesn't distinguish itself beyond its leads.