In a Valley of Violence
By Jeffrey M. Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Small-scale revenge Western is entertaining but violent.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
In a Valley of Violence
Community Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
Good Western!!
What's the Story?
IN A VALLEY OF VIOLENCE finds ex-soldier Paul (Ethan Hawke) traveling with his faithful dog. He's sworn off killing and is now simply hoping to get to Mexico to live a quiet life. But Paul makes the mistake of stopping for water in a dismal little town called Denton, where he meets pretty young hotel clerk Mary-Anne (Taissa Farmiga). He also has a run-in with the local bully, Gilly (James Ransone). Paul beats Gilly in a fair fight, and, after a stern lecture by Gilly's father, Marshal Clyde Martin (John Travolta), Paul heads on his way. But when Gilly and his men brutally attack Paul in the desert, he vows revenge. He heads back into town without a plan -- and most certainly facing a fierce fight. Will Paul go through with his revenge? And will he survive?
Is It Any Good?
West -- a superior horror director -- adapts his skills to the Western genre and comes up with a simple revenge-based film, baked in his singular style, with plenty of amusing, amazing touches. With its big, red opening-credits sequence and Jeff Grace's thumping, thundering score, In a Valley of Violence is clearly inspired by Sergio Leone, but it ultimately feels more like a tense, economic B movie than it does a sprawling epic. As he did in his great horror films The House of the Devil and The Innkeepers, West favors a slow-burn technique, spending time watching the characters talking or simply being before moving ahead.
This allows for many unexpected moments of humor -- as well as surprising moments of violence. (A war-related flashback/nightmare reveals West's horror roots.) It also allows for a rounded performance by Hawke, who's perfect as a stoic loner, and a fun one by Travolta as a wise, cautious lawman. And although women rarely figure much into the Western genre, Farmiga is delightfully chattery and headstrong. The movie's plot recalls many other films (especially, almost note-for-note, John Wick), but West makes this movie all his own. It's a worthy addition to a classic genre.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in In a Valley of Violence. How did it make you feel? Why do you think that is? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
Do the movie's characters have any other motivation besides revenge? How does that affect how you see them and their actions?
Is Gilly a bully? Why does he do what he does? How is he dealt with?
Did you notice any stereotypes in the film? Are they accurate for the time period it's set in? Does that make it OK?
What's the appeal of the Western genre? How has it changed in its 100+ years of existence? How does this movie compare to other Westerns you've seen?
Movie Details
- In theaters: October 21, 2016
- On DVD or streaming: December 27, 2016
- Cast: Ethan Hawke , John Travolta , Taissa Farmiga
- Director: Ti West
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Focus World
- Genre: Western
- Run time: 104 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: violence and language
- Last updated: February 18, 2023
Inclusion information powered by
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Westerns for Kids and Teens
Graphic Novels That Teach History
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate