Pretty Good

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

There aren't many Westerns made today; let alone of good quality. With superb acting and directing, The Dark Valley should go down as one of the best. Timing and scenery are used well.

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.

Great suspense, you literally live and feel each moment, what a lost and dark place, filled with fear and hate against the tyrann and his son's, making people there a living hell, no hope and in the middle of nowhere arrives a stranger, the guy seems to be fearless and determined, the odious clan want's him to be gone, a sudden glimpse of hope within all this desperation, horses and man are part of the spectacular landscape, suspense is for instance unbearable and you want to move further, but that's the thing, the director catches every moment, every breath, you have an idea what's is going to happen next, but even then, in the very moment the picture is even better, really great movie and great cast, sam riley is phenomenal, he is without mercy, which is understandable given the circumstances

Such great preconditions: a fantastic novel, a promising cast. So how did this movie end up being so mediocre? 1. and most important: They changed the story. They should not have. That's the biggest mistake of all. They should have just adhered to the novel. Nothing would have gone wrong. But they did and subsequently ruined all the atmosphere of the novel. The plot moves way too fast.2. Pop music as background music? Terrible decision. Not fitting at all. Why not traditional Austrian folk tunes? Why not a zither or a dulcimer? Too obvious? Maybe. But it would have been much more appropriate. 3. The big shoot-out at the end is poorly directed.4. Why the occasional slow motion? It probably is supposed to make the movie more intense, but it's nothing more than an atmosphere killer. As mentioned earlier under those preconditions "Das finstere Tal" is a decent movie, but anyone who read the novel will be disappointed.