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In the Valley of Elah

2007Movie2 h 4 minR

DramaHistory
70
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.1Metacritic657.6Rotten Tomatoes73%77%

A deeply moving, profoundly sad history movie about everyday modern life and family, with standout performances and characters.

Good for thought-provoking · adults · partner watch

Skip it if you want something to laugh at · you need an uplifting mood · you want fast pacing

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Movies with

Story

Sometimes finding the truth is easier than facing it.

A career officer and his wife work with a police detective to uncover the truth behind their son's disappearance following his return from a tour of duty in Iraq.

Feels like

  • Grief-Stricken Mystery
  • Post-Iraq War Drama
  • Military PTSD Exploration
  • Slow-Burn Procedural
  • Emotionally Devastating
  • Tommy Lee Jones Performance
  • Social Critique of War
  • Realistic Family Dynamics
  • Melancholic Atmosphere

Cast

24 of 39

Crew

Directed by
Paul Haggis
Written by
Paul Haggis, Mark Boal
Produced by
Paul Haggis, Patrick Wachsberger, Steve Samuels
Music by
Mark Isham

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

September 14, 2007 · 2 h 4 min · R

Released
September 14, 2007
Runtime
2 h 4 min
Age rating
R
Content
Violence, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
History, Drama, Thriller, Crime, Mystery
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$23 million
Box office
$30 million
Available in
51 countries

Tropes

The CSI Effect, Sherlock Scan, Title Drop +9

  • The CSI Effect
  • Sherlock Scan
  • Title Drop
  • Determinator
  • There's No Kill like Overkill
  • Retired Badass
  • Red Herring
  • The Reveal
  • Meta Casting
  • Bookends
  • Tattered Flag
  • Chekhov's Gunman

12 of 27 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream In the Valley of Elah?"

Questions about In the Valley of Elah

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream In the Valley of Elah?

In the United States, you can rent or buy In the Valley of Elah from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It streams in 28 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is In the Valley of Elah worth watching?

70
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 70 (IMDb 7.1, Rotten Tomatoes 73%, and Metacritic 65).

Will I feel good after watching In the Valley of Elah?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for bleakness and 9 for melancholy, against 3 for hopefulness.

Is In the Valley of Elah plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and pathos (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

What tropes does In the Valley of Elah use?

The CSI EffectSherlock ScanTitle DropDeterminatorThere's No Kill like OverkillRetired BadassRed HerringThe RevealMeta CastingBookendsTattered FlagChekhov's Gunmanand 15 more

TV Tropes lists 27 tropes for it, including The CSI Effect, Sherlock Scan, and Title Drop.