In a Valley of Violence

An American Western film from 2016, written and directed by Ti West. The story follows a drifter named Paul (Ethan Hawke) and his dog Abbie as they journey through the desert of the Old West in the 1870s, heading towards Mexico. Along the way, they encounter a bandit and disgraced clergyman named Priest, who attempts to steal Paul's horse. Abbie attacks Priest, and Paul leaves him without water or weapons. Paul arrives in the nearly deserted town of Denton, where he meets a cocky young man named Gilly (James Ransone) in the local tavern. Gilly provokes Paul into a fight, but Paul easily defeats him, drawing the ire of Gilly's fiancée Ellen (Karen Gillan) and her sister Mary-Anne (Taissa Farmiga), who run the town's hotel. Mary-Anne shows kindness to Paul and offers him and Abbie a bath. Humiliated, Gilly seeks revenge by killing Abbie, prompting Paul to embark on a violent quest for vengeance. He eliminates Gilly's accomplices and confronts Marshal Clyde Martin (John Travolta), Gilly's father, who, despite recognizing his son's guilt, tries to prevent further bloodshed. The film blends elements of classic Westerns with dark humor, exploring themes of revenge, justice, and the consequences of violence.