LA Times Indie Focus: Exceptional new releases with 'Moonlight,' 'The Handmaiden' and 'Christine' with Mention of IN A VALLEY OF VIOLENCE

This might be one of the best weekends for new movies that we see all year. With the highly anticipated, much talked-about films “Moonlight,” “The Handmaiden” and “Christine” all hitting theaters, there are some great options for going to the movies.

‘In a Valley of Violence’

Ti West has long been one of the most inventive filmmakers working within the space of low-budget horror movies, playing with the rules of genre in films such as “The House of the Devil” and “The Sacrament.” Now he takes on the classic revenge western with “In a Valley of Violence.” Yes, the film features fine performance from the likes of Ethan Hawke,John Travolta and Taissa Farmiga, but most likely you will leave the movie talking about Jumpy the Dog. (Honest.)

In his review for The Times, Michael Rechtshaffen likewise singled out Jumpy, calling his “one of the year’s more affecting canine performances.”

At his Movable Fest site, Stephen Saito interviewed West, who said of Jumpy “It was easy in every step of the way working with Jumpy and because of that, it made me go, ‘I know Jumpy can put his paw over his face, so I’m going to write a scene where that happens. I know Jumpy can wrap himself up in a blanket, so I’m going to write a scene where that happens.’ So after I cast Jumpy, I did a pass on the script giving Jumpy more character.”

Essential read over at LA Times