The Dark Valley is a 2014 German-Austrian Western film directed by Andreas Prochaska. The story takes place in a small isolated town in the Austrian Alps during the late 19th century. A lone rider named Greider arrives in the town seeking shelter and a place to stay during the winter. The townsfolk, who are mostly farmers and woodcutters, are suspicious of Greider and their rudeness and hostility make it clear that they don't want him to stay.
As the story progresses, we learn that Greider has a hidden agenda and is seeking revenge against the town's leader, Brenner, and his family. Brenner and his six sons are the wealthiest and most powerful people in town. They have a tight grip on the town's resources and the citizens. Greider, disguised as a photographer, begins to investigate the past secrets of Brenner's family and unearths a dark history that involves greed, betrayal, and murder.
As the winter turns colder, tensions between Greider and Brenner escalate, and the town becomes a battleground for their vendetta. With the help of a young woman, Luzia, who is brave enough to defy Brenner and help Greider, the lone rider sets off on a path of vengeance that will leave no one untouched.
The Dark Valley is a stunning film filled with beautiful cinematography and haunting music. It's a unique twist on the Western genre that combines elements of classic revenge tales with the snowy landscapes and dark moody settings of German Expressionist films.