A History of Violence

Plot

A mild-mannered man becomes a local hero through an act of violence, which sets off repercussions that will shake his family to its very core.

Release Year: 2005

Rating: 7.6/10 (106,544 voted)

Critic's Score: 81/100

Director:
David Cronenberg

Stars: Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, Ed Harris

Storyline
This is the story of a mild-mannered man, named Tom Stall, who becomes a local hero through an act of violence, he lives a happy and quiet life with his lawyer wife and their two children in the small town of Millbrook, Indiana. But one night their idyllic existence is shattered when Tom foils a vicious attempted robbery in his diner. Sensing danger, he takes action and saves his customers and friends in the self-defense killings of two-sought-after criminals. Heralded as a hero, Tom's life is changed overnight, attracting a national media circus, which forces him into the spotlight. Uncomfortable with his newfound celebrity, Tom tries to return to the normalcy of his ordinary life only to be confronted by a mysterious and threatening man who arrives in town believing Tom is the man who wronged him in the past. As Tom and his family fight back against this case of mistaken identity and struggle to cope with their changed reality…

Writers: John Wagner, Vince Locke

Cast:

Viggo Mortensen
–

Tom Stall

Maria Bello
–

Edie Stall

Ed Harris
–

Carl Fogarty

William Hurt
–

Richie Cusack

Ashton Holmes
–

Jack Stall

Peter MacNeill
–

Sheriff Sam Carney

Stephen McHattie
–

Leland

Greg Bryk
–

Billy

Kyle Schmid
–

Bobby Singer

Sumela Kay
–

Judy Danvers

Gerry Quigley
–

Mick

Deborah Drakeford
–

Charlotte

Heidi Hayes
–

Sarah Stall

Aidan Devine
–

Charlie Roarke

Bill MacDonald
–

Frank Mulligan

Taglines:
Everyone has something to hide.

Details

Official Website:
Metropolitan Filmexport [France] |
New Line Cinema [United States] |

Release Date: 30 September 2005

Filming Locations: King City, Ontario, Canada

Box Office Details

Budget: $32,000,000

(estimated)

Opening Weekend: $515,992
(USA)
(25 September 2005)
(14 Screens)

Gross: $31,493,782
(USA)
(5 February 2006)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Did You Know?

Trivia:

Thomas Jane and Harrison Ford turned down the role of Tom Stall.

Goofs:

Continuity:
When Sam (the Sheriff) stops Fogarty's car and talks to him, he looks at the driver's license in his hand. Immediately afterward, Fogarty closes the window, and the car drives away, without Sam returning the license. Yet his hands are empty.

Quotes:

[first lines]

William Orser:
So we keep headin' east?

Leland Jones:
Yeah, that's the idea.

William Orser:
Stay out of the big cities?

Leland Jones:
Uh-huh.

User Review

Well, what did you expect?

Rating: 10/10


I read through a lot of these comments, and it seems quite a few people
who have given this film a bad rating based their judgment on either
the sex scenes, or the gore (or both). Well, it's called "A History of
Violence", and it's directed by David Cronenberg! What did they expect?
The film is, simply put, amazing. Anyone who enjoys Cronenberg's other
films will greatly appreciate this one. It speaks on many levels, and I
suggest seeing it more than once to fully take it all in. Beautiful
performances all around. I felt as though that is how people put in a
situation like that would really act. I had a smile on my face the
entire film because I have been waiting all summer (or longer) for a
film of this caliber, and it was worth it.