A Beautiful, Emotional Mix of Queer Horror, Aliens and Cowboys

In the Valley packs an impressive amount into a short runtime. Adam Van Dyke blends queer history, science fiction, horror and the story of a man trying to understand his own past without simply dumping the answers in your lap.

Jorgie Goico gives a strong performance as Josh, moving convincingly through love, fear and confusion. The desert cinematography is gorgeous, especially the use of light and color in a landscape that otherwise feels completely empty.

I have to give Van Dyke a lot of credit for how fresh this feels. More importantly, it has an emotional core underneath all the aliens, cowboys and surreal imagery. This was my second watch and it affected me even more this time.

8.5/10 - Solid Screams.

The horror genre features stories that aim to elicit fear, suspense, and a sense of dread in its audience. Horror stories often explore themes related to the unknown, the supernatural, and the macabre, and they frequently evoke strong emotional reactions such as anxiety, terror, and unease.

The sci-fi genre, short for science fiction, features imaginative and futuristic concepts that are often rooted in scientific principles, technology, and possibilities. These stories delve into "what if" questions and can serve as a platform to address contemporary social, political, and ethical issues by projecting them onto future or alternate settings.

James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

Josh wakes alone in the desert after a night with a mysterious Cowboy. As reality twists, he must uncover the truth about the Cowboy, shadowy figures, and his past-before the desert claims him.

Aiden Zhane, Jack Lerner, Arden Lassalle, Adam Van Dyke, and Jorgie Goico in In the Valley (2025)

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Arden Lassalle and Jorgie Goico in In the Valley (2025)

Jeremy Hill and Adam Van Dyke in In the Valley (2025)

In the Valley

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