A History of Violence (2005)
Average Rating: 7.9/10
Reviews Counted: 207
Fresh: 180 | Rotten: 27
A History of Violence raises compelling and thoughtful questions about the nature of violence, while representing a return to form for director David Cronenberg in one of his more uncharacteristic pieces.
Average Rating: 8.3/10
Critic Reviews: 43
Fresh: 41 | Rotten: 2
A History of Violence raises compelling and thoughtful questions about the nature of violence, while representing a return to form for director David Cronenberg in one of his more uncharacteristic pieces.
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Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 276,550
Movie Info
David Cronenberg directed this screen adaptation of a graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke which explores how an act of heroism unexpectedly changes a man's life. Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) lives a quiet life in a small Indiana town, running the local diner with his wife, Edie (Maria Bello), and raising their two children. But the quiet is shattered one day when a pair of criminals on the run from the police walk into his diner just before closing time. After they attack one of the
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Cast
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Viggo Mortensen
Tom Stall -
Maria Bello
Edie Stall -
Ashton Holmes
Jack Stall -
William Hurt
Richie Cusack -
Stephen McHattie
Leland Jones -
Peter MacNeill
Sheriff Sam Carney -
Ed Harris
Carl Fogarty -
Heidi Hayes
Sarah Stall -
Greg Bryk
William "Billy" Orse... -
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A History of Violence Trailer & Photos
All Critics (207) | Top Critics (43) | Fresh (180) | Rotten (27) | DVD (38)
The less you know about this movie before seeing it -- and you really should see it -- the better.
Top CriticCronenberg's direction, mirroring the split in Tom, is alternately measured and frighteningly explosive, and, as always, he gives the movie a nasty underlay of sexual perversity.
This peculiarly predictable picture has been calculated, or miscalculated, to set up certain expectations, fulfill them, and then do the same thing again, thereby giving us a chance to see what's coming and, at least in theory, be shocked.
A remarkably convincing examination of heroism, hero worship, and the seductive allure of villainy.
A model of clean, lean storytelling.
Though this is certainly Cronenberg's most 'mainstream' movie in years, the fact that it's so immediately enjoyable as a terrific thriller does not diminish its less obvious virtues.
A fascinating exercise in cinematic restraint resulting in a captivating, not to be missed film.
With A History Of Violence, Cronenberg uses the pulp gangster genre - as opposed to, say, sci-fi horror -- to draw us into a dialogue on our relationship as voyeurs to violence, both real and cinematic.
Without conceding any of his iconoclastic vision, Cronenberg has turned a genre film with classic Western overtones into a gripping psychological drama that examines the duality of man and his infatuation with the art of violence.
While it weakens in its final stretch...A History of Violence succeeds enormously thanks to the strength of its direction and performances.
A truly entertaining and engrossing study of violence, family, and our pasts eventually coming back to haunt us...
The violence that enters the characters' perfect domestic existence is permanent, and each act reveals truths about the people who use it and the audience who enjoys it.
Impeccable formal control to match audacity is mandatory, and Cronenberg provides it
The movie begins slowly, methodically, and builds increasingly toward a devastating climax.
It's one of the better dramas of the year so far -- even if at times it feels like an artistic genius is painting by numbers.
The tension builds in a slow boil, then ignites furiously when we're not quite ready for it.
Mr. Mortensen and the sparse, intelligent script hold it together.
The master is back, with this remarkably accessible tale of anger and revenge.
Shows its stuff as both suspenseful, eloquent storytelling, while giving rise to larger cultural questions connected to the entrenched institutionalization of aggression as a major means of problem solving in this country.
A History of Violence develops with the singleness of purpose, and the rigor, of a mathematical demonstration, one that begins with a commonly accepted truth and ends with brains spattered across the floor.
full review in Greek
Cronenberg's masterful, intelligent and gripping meta-thriller leaves us pondering about our enduringly perverse desire for alternative realities, in which surrogate violent alter egos run righteously and preposterously amok.
Audience Reviews for A History of Violence
Super Reviewer
Movies Like A History of Violence
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- Tom Stall: Jesus, Richie.
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- Richie Cusack: How do you fuck that up? How do you FUCK THAT UP?!
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- Jack Stall: If I rob Mulligan's pharmacy, are you going to ground me if I don't give you a piece of the action? If I go to Sam about you, will you have me whacked?
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- Carl Fogarty: Still crazy fucking Joey.
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Foreign Titles
- History Of Violence (DE)
- Una historia de violencia (ES)
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