Although American film directorTi Westis best known for his brand of horror cinema, fans of theXfranchise 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 viaThe Resident, Soundtrack,and,most recently,Poker Face.
With West now in pre-production for the new dark comedy Prime Video TV seriesBloodlust,it’s worth watchingIn A Valley of Violenceto 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 byHigh Plains DrifterandFirst Blood, In a Valley of Violencepairs 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 Violenceis at its very best when Hawke and Travolta share the screen. Despite beinga 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.
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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
BeforeIn a Valley of Violence, Hawke starred inRichard Linklater’s western,The Newtown Boys. After starring inValley of Violence, Hawke appeared inThe KidandThe 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 dwarfedIn a Valley of Violenceas a result.
A star-studded affair led by Denzel Washington,The Magnificent Sevensignificantly outshotIn A Valley of Violenceat the box office. The former was released widely and grossed over $162 million worldwide (viaBox Office Mojo), while the latter had a limited release and earned a paltry $62,000 (viaBox Office Mojo). As such, many were robbed of Hawke’s powerful leading turn, anchoringIn a Valley of Violence, which is arguably stronger than his supporting performance inThe 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, includingX, Pearl,andMaXXXine. Up next for West is a dark comedy TV series calledBloodlust.
Everything To Know About Ti West’s Bloodlust
AlthoughIn a Valley of Violencewas a commercial failure, it earned enough positive reviews among critics to keepTi West’s careergoing. 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 untilXin 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’sPoker Facein 2025, West now turns his sights toBloodlust,a new dark comedy series for Prime Video created by pop sensation Halsey. West and Halsey previously worked together onMaXXXine, in which the pop singer played the role of Tabby Martin.
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As forBloodlust,Varietyreported in December 2024that:
“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,Bloodlustmarks another evolutionary step in West’s career. For those who enjoy theXtrilogy 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 inThe Magnificent Sevenshould giveIn a Valley of Violencea look at what’s arguably his best performance in a western.
