When retired Military Police officer Hank receives a message telling him his army enlisted boy is missing from his New Mexico base and when his request for answers reveals nothing the old man, helped by an initially reluctant female detective, sets out on a detection path of his own. "In The Valley Of Elah" is a clever, nicely photographed film that ultimately makes its stance on the dehumanisation that results from violent conflict (Iraq). A Hollywood dramatic thriller yes, overly signposted yes, but this keeps an effective fine line between bubble gum entertainment and something rather more thought provoking.