The Western genre was once a movement that helped save the industry during Hollywood’s Golden Age, but over the course of the 21st century it has lost popularity. While films like The assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford And James Mangold‘s remake of 3:10 to Yuma were praised for reviving a “classic” version of the gunslinger adventure, but their poor box office results suggested that audiences were more interested in films that subverted expectations. Unsurprisingly, neo-westerns like No country for old men, Logan, And Hell or high water were critically and commercially well received because they successfully brought Western themes and archetypes into the modern era. Although they did not achieve the same relevance in popular culture as these, the neo-western drama from 2005 Down in the valley reversed stereotypes into a profound character study.

Down in the valley director David Jacobson might have aroused the interest of cinephiles after his underrated serial killer thriller Dahmer with Jeremy Rennerbut the real incentive for Down in the valley saw Edward Norton in another unusual character role. Norton was a star whose off-screen antics were as exciting as the films in which he appeared. Down in the valley was only a few years before the chaos on the set of The Incredible Hulk that led to him being fired from Marvel Studios. As temperamental as Norton may be as a star, he is one of the finest actors of his generation and is often willing to take risks on rigorous character projects that aren’t easily described by traditional Hollywood standards. Down in the valley is an eccentric but deeply sad commentary on American masculinity that represents one of the most underrated performances of Norton’s career.

Down in the valley

A young girl named Tobe meets Harlan, a charming cowboy from the San Fernando Valley. Their relationship takes a dark turn when Harlan’s true nature is revealed, bringing dangerous consequences for everyone involved.

Release date

13 May 2005

director

David Jacobson

Duration

112 minutes

Main genre

drama

Authors

David Jacobson

studio

THINKFilm

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What is “Down in the Valley” about?

Located in the San Fernando Valley, Down in the valley revolves around an old-fashioned drifter who lives like he’s in a western, as he constantly wears a cowboy hat and refuses to accept modern technology. Harlan Fairfax Curruthers (Norton) doesn’t necessarily try to impose his ideas on others, but his unusual behavior has landed him a fairly unremarkable job at a local gas station frequented by teenagers heading to the beach on their school holidays. While on the job, Harlan meets rebellious teenager Tobe Sommers (Evan Rachel Wood) and her younger brother Twig (Rory Culkin), both of whom felt inadequately protected by their conservative father Wade, a police officer (David Morse). Although their friendship starts off seriously, things get more dangerous for Tobe and Twig when they have to choose between these radically different lifestyles.

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Down in the valley does a great job of taking its premise seriouslywhich allows the film to successfully transition into a psychological thriller. From the very first moments that Harlan appears on screen, it’s obvious that he will pose a threat in Tobe’s life. She may find his honesty charming, especially when compared to the strict lifestyle her father demands, but he also lives in a fantasy world that bears no resemblance to reality. Harlan ultimately longs for a more straightforward world where everything is black and white, and fails to realize that people like Tobe have many different facets. It’s dangerous for Harlan to portray anyone who disagrees with him as a “villain,” and it’s even more problematic for him to assume that he’s the hero of this narrative he’s constructed.

“Down in the Valley” is a tragedy about the idolization of the past

Down in the valley The study shows that nostalgia is ultimately not a successful means of coping with difficulties. Harlan tries to avoid serious moral dilemmas by adopting the kind of “lone gunslinger” persona he might have seen in a Western with Gary Cooper or John Wayne. While he assumes that this means Tobe is the “damsel in distress” in this situation, that doesn’t take into account the fact that she is young and prone to making erratic decisions. Tobe may have issues with her father that occasionally become so extreme that she angrily leaves the house, but that doesn’t mean their family dynamic is purely dysfunctional. Harlan may want to help by isolating Tobe and Twig from their father, but this ends up doing more harm than good when Wade assumes that this mysterious stranger intends to harm his children. Like all good tragedies, Down in the valley creates conflict because all characters have understandable (and perhaps even comprehensible) motivations.

Down in the valley does a great job of elevating all of its characters above cliches, making it a slice-of-life drama that doesn’t collapse under the weight of its own idiosyncrasies. Culkin, who has always been an underrated actor, gets to show how Twigs’ desire for a compassionate father figure leads him to accept Harlan as his mentor, even when all signs point to him being dangerous. Likewise, Morse gets to add nuance to Wade, making him an antagonist but not necessarily a villain. Although Wade ignores his children’s beliefs and shows little interest in their future, that doesn’t mean he’s unwilling to risk his own life to protect them.

Many of Edward Norton’s best films are cult classics

Down in the valley was released in a unique window in Norton’s career, when he starred in several underrated films which did not necessarily become mainstream successes. Fight Club was notorious for its controversial discussions when it was first published, but gradually became recognized as an important satirical work. Spike Lees compassionate drama The 25th hourthe underrated heist thriller The scorethe epic from the Romantic period The Illusionistand the horror prequel Red Dragonsome of Norton’s best works have now been downgraded to “cult classics.” Hopefully those who enjoy his idiosyncrasies as an actor can watch a film as deep and thoughtful as Down in the valley.

Down in the valley is currently streaming on Prime Video in the US

Watch on Prime Video