Das finstere Tal (The Dark Valley) is an old Western film set in the Alps and with an Austrian cast except of the lead character, the British actor Sam Riley.
Through a hidden path a lone rider reaches a little town high up in the Alpes. Nobody knows where the stranger comes from, nor what he wants there. But everyone knows that they don't want him to stay. Directed by Andreas Prochaska who also co wrote the script this is a German language version of the old Spaghetti westerns so popular some decades back. As such it is a mood piece (gorgeous cinematography by Thomas W. Kiennast and a stunning musical score by Matthias Weber) that appears to be Prochaska's salute to the old Hollywood westerns.
There is not much story: Through a hidden path a lone rider reaches a little town high up in the Alpes. Nobody knows where the stranger comes from, nor what he wants there. But everyone knows that they don't want him to stay. Sam Riley controls every minute he is on screen and is likely one the reasons the film is beginning to win awards at festivals. A tasty throwback to the grit of the really fine westerns of the past and a welcome one at that. Grady Harp, December 14
Through a hidden path a lone rider reaches a little town high up in the Alpes. Nobody knows where the stranger comes from, nor what he wants there. But everyone knows that they don't want him to stay. Directed by Andreas Prochaska who also co wrote the script this is a German language version of the old Spaghetti westerns so popular some decades back. As such it is a mood piece (gorgeous cinematography by Thomas W. Kiennast and a stunning musical score by Matthias Weber) that appears to be Prochaska's salute to the old Hollywood westerns.
There is not much story: Through a hidden path a lone rider reaches a little town high up in the Alpes. Nobody knows where the stranger comes from, nor what he wants there. But everyone knows that they don't want him to stay. Sam Riley controls every minute he is on screen and is likely one the reasons the film is beginning to win awards at festivals. A tasty throwback to the grit of the really fine westerns of the past and a welcome one at that. Grady Harp, December 14