The Dark Valley

2014
7.1| 1h55m| NR| en| More Info
Released: 13 February 2014 Released
Producted By: X Filme Creative Pool
Country: Germany
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website: http://en.allegrofilm.at/filme/das-finstere-tal?lang=en
Synopsis

The Alps, late 19th century. Greider, a mysterious lone rider who claims to be a photographer, arrives at an isolated lumber village, despotically ruled by a family clan, asking for winter accommodation.

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Reviews

ChicRawIdol A brilliant film that helped define a genre
Organnall Too much about the plot just didn't add up, the writing was bad, some of the scenes were cringey and awkward,
Claire Dunne One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.
Ezmae Chang This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.
rhinotim If Greider had really hated the old man as much as we were led to believe, he should have denied the old man's request to "make it quick." He should have dragged him out to the cross and crucified him as was done to Greider's "father".Then, as Luzi said, "left him hanging there until there was nothing left."
hackraytex I have just finished this movie and it is truly remarkable. I really enjoy independently produced westerns and this is one of the best. It goes a bit slow but it is worth ii to stay through it until the end. For a western fan, it will not a disappoint.What attracted me to this was the idea of a western set in the Alps of Austria or Germany. It was never clear about that but it does not matter. I don't want to make a spoiler but as I said, this is SET in the Alps and not just shot in the Alps as an American western.This is a genre of westerns that I would like to see more of and that is the American Cowboy or Cowgirl placed in a foreign environment. The Dark Valley stacks up well with Quigley Down Under (Australia). Hidalgo (Saudi Arabia),and The Castaway Cowboy (Hawaii) although the last was a comedy. What I have enjoyed about all of these flicks is how the American cowboy has to adapt to the environment to survive and prevail. I hope there are more such westerns like that out there or maybe someone will be inspired to explore this sub genre. I have never seen Africa:Texas Style but that was a "modern" western and I am not too crazy about those except that I did like Longmire. Good job everyone.
Aglaope The main difference with this western is it is set in a remote valley in the European Alps. Western genre more than western.At times I thought I was going to be watching another version of Pale Rider (1985), but it was probably more like Unforgiven (1992) meets Deliverance (1972).It is a film that keeps the dialogue to a minimum, and doesn't dig unto the characters personality in depth, but I think that works in this context.A German/American (Greider) rides into to a remote mountain village as a photographer, but there is a hidden agenda. He also hides a Winchester repeating rifle; the locals only have breech-loading rifles.The dominant family in the area are the Brenners. As things develop confrontations, and vengeance comes into play.A really good watch. The Austrian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards.
billgrasha I'd never seen an Oestern before, so I thought this might be worth watching. My mistake. Dark Valley is too kind a description. Dismal, dank, horrid would all be better descriptors. And I only watched for thirty minutes.The best parts are the scenery and the homestead/village sets.After that it is all downhill. Or should I say uphill? The opening narrative is whispered and pretty effectively canceled out by some dreary string music. That sets the tone for the rest of it. Everyone in Dark Valley seems to be a refugee from a Bergman film, and nearly all have laryngitis. Those that don't are effectively canceled out by hoof beats, wagon wheels, tableware, rustling straw, rain, etc., all of which were recorded at least 40 decibels higher than the voices. Not that the dialogue was anything original, but it would have been nice to hear more of it.I never thought I would miss stage actors projecting their voices to the back corner of the second balcony. They could have used a few in this.