5. In a Valley of Violence (2015)
To date, still the only non-horror film Ti West has ever made. He mostly made horror films and one can’t complain about them as most of them were highly entertaining and that includes “MaXXXine” which didn’t get the attention of the previous two installments of the trilogy but the direction was strong. He’s obviously passionate about filmmaking and especially the movies of previous decades where he keeps the old-school traditions alive in his movies.
Same goes for his spaghetti western tribute “In a Valley of Violence,” which follows a simple story that is not far different from the classical stories of the era but West somehow manage to make it work. Ethan Hawke is a cool choice but Taissa Farmiga’s comedic timing and John Travolta’s over-the-top villainous ham are what makes the film entertaining, they basically steal the show. It’s amazing that the star of Travolta’s caliber who has given some iconic performances are struggling to find good material like this anymore.
West brings a playful edge to the material and kind of finds a great balance; it’s a movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously but not to a parody level. That’s what makes the film work; it’s very self-aware but at the same time, embraces the genre’s conventions while simultaneously poking fun at them. The script has a sharp, witty tone and despite classic influences, West’s direction makes it feel modern enough.
4. The Retrieval (2013)
“Slow West” was another fine film but it’s perhaps little too known already to be on this list, at least it made lots of splash when it came out. In a way, this film is similar in some ways and might appeal to those who enjoyed that one. Setting in the final years of the Civil War, the movie follows 13-year-old Will (played by “Ashton Sanders”, best known for “Moonlight”) who works with a bounty hunter Burrell to track down escaped slaves. He’s tasked with locating a freedman hiding in the woods. And the rest of the film is basically the compelling and complex exploration of the relationship between these three characters. There had been some great African-American-led westerns in the recent times like “Django Unchained” and “The Harder They Fall” but this one is a lot different and no, that’s not only about horrors of slavery.
This is a movie about internal struggles of its character, particularly the lead one who is caught between royalty to Burrell and his growing connection to the man he’s supposed to catch that is Nate. . It’s about these complex relationships, emotional weight of the story that unfolds naturally. It’s a brutal world that gives him a little hope and the film uses it to give a comment on trust, betrayal and the legacy of slavery. Unfortunately, the movie did not receive much of attention upon its release. Yet it’s a beautiful, nuanced and thoughtful portrayal of some of the darkest periods in American history. Distributed by a rather small company with Variance Films, the movie couldn’t find its audience but it’s never too late.
3. The Ballad of Lefty Brown (2017)
Another character-driven Western on the list is not about the hero, but rather about the sidekick and that premise alone makes it interesting. Bill Pullman stars as the titular character Lefty Brown, aging cowboy who was always overshadowed by his best friend, the legendary Edward Johnson (played by Peter Fonda in one of his finest final films) Things change when Johnson gets murdered. Ed’s wife Laura blames Lefty for not protecting her husband and pays no mind when Lefty says he will avenge Ed. As someone who’s underestimated and dismissed by the most people around him, it’ll be a different kind of journey for Lefty.
Brown is played by Bill Pullman, a face familiar to everyone as he had been in countless classics and hits from “While You Were Sleeping” to “Independence Day” but rarely a film gave him a chance to be this good. The entire film is basically is a deconstruction of the Western hero myth. Lefty, with his shambling gait and awkward demeanor, is not the traditional gunslinger general audiences are used to. He’s slow, clumsy, and often the butt of jokes. Pullman’s performance give him warmth and vulnerability, and puts usually a comic relief type of character into the center.
The film also deals with the themes of aging and legacy very well. The movie certainly deserved more recognition, its unlikely hero and the themes it deals with makes it worth watching. It’s also action-packed enough for those who wouldn’t enjoy the more slow choices on the list.
2. The Dark Valley (2014)
We’re going back to Europe again, this time with an Austrian-German film, directed by Andreas Prochaska, that sets in the remote Austrian Alps. It got widespread acclaim and lots of awards in Austria and they even submitted the film for the Oscars but unfortunately, it ultimately didn’t get nominated. The eventual nominees were all strong, so one can’t complain but given the popularity of Oscars, it might have help to give the film a little boost.
The film is about a mysterious outsider named Greider (Sam Riley), who arrives in a secluded mountain village under the pretense of being a photographer. But as you might expect, Greider has a hidden agenda, as he begins to exact a slow and methodical revenge on the town’s brutal ruling family, the Brenners, who have maintained control over the villagers through fear and violence.
Obviously, having a different kind of setting already feels fresh when you watch the film. Those mountains, and forests gives the film a somewhat claustrophobic feeling. It also helps the cinematography to be the breathtaking as it is. The stark contrast between the icy white snow and the film’s darker, more violent moments adds to the sense of foreboding that permeates the narrative. The film takes its time to build the tension and the lead performance gives it a certain mystery, along with gravitas. The haunting atmosphere, interesting performances, and well-handled tone are some of the things that makes the film worth watching.
1. Brimstone (2016)
Guy Pearce has been getting some recognition for “The Brutalist” and when the reviews came out, the fans were already cheering that the actor whose great performances in “Memento” and “L.A. Confidential” got snubbed is having a moment. Through the years, he had lots of excellent performances in underrated films and “Brimstone” is one of them. Co-starring Dakota Fanning who is recently busy with being the MVP in TV shows like “The Perfect Couple” and “Ripley”, the movie is a brutal and memorable Western thriller. Fanning plays a mute midwife and Pearce is the sadistic preacher who relentlessly pursues her. Its Venice premiere was somewhat controversial as it’s a film that deals with religious fanaticism, and graphic violence might not appeal to everyone.
Even though it got better reviews afterwards and embraced more in the Europe, still the film got somewhat overshadowed by the bigger releases of the year. The film is structured in a nonlinear format and reveals its story in four chapters, each peeling back layers of Dakota Fanning character Liz’s past and her connection to The Reverend, a character whose presence looms over the entire film he serves not only as the physical, but also symbolic representation of the oppressive forces that Liz must escape from.
Once again, if the long films with disturbing violence is not for you, you might want to skip it but the movie is full of such tension and a sense of danger that westerns of such kind will probably enjoy it a lot. And of course, no western is perfect without a great cinematography and the movie delivers on that area as well.