A History of Violence

2005

1h 36m

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

3.5K

YOUR RATING

Rate

POPULARITY

Play trailer

3 Videos

99+ Images

Drama

Thriller

Crime

An average family is thrust into the spotlight after the father commits a seemingly self-defense murder at his diner.

Directors

David Cronenberg

Writers

Josh Olson(screenplay by)

Vince Locke(graphic novel by)

John Wagner(graphic novel by)

Stars

Viggo Mortensen

Maria Bello

Ed Harris

See production, box office & company info

Top cast

Tom Stall …

Edie Stall

Carl Fogarty

Richie Cusack

Jack Stall

Sheriff Sam Carney

Leland

Billy

Bobby

Judy Danvers

Mick

Charlotte

Sarah Stall

Charlie Roarke

Frank Mulligan

Jenny Wyeth

Ruben

Pat

Directors

David Cronenberg

Writers

Josh Olson(screenplay by)

Vince Locke(graphic novel by)

John Wagner(graphic novel by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

**_When a peaceable family man is backed against a wall_** Shot in the late summer/early fall of 2004, this was described by director Cronenberg as “a meditation on the human body and its relationship to violence.” It comes in the tradition of “Straw Dogs,” addressing the same issues as “Billy Jack”; namely, absolute pacifism vs limited pacifism. The former never resorts to violence, even in the face of great evil, whereas the latter strives for peace, but turns to violence when justified. The New Testament supports limited pacifism not absolute pacifism, as some mistakenly think (see Luke 12:39, for instance). Yet there’s more going on as the film explores overcoming a troubled past for a new identity while tapping into the primal self if necessary. Viggo Mortensen is great here and he described it as “one of the best movies [he's] ever been in, if not the best.” Maria Bello is effective but lost what little curves she had and looks verging on anorexic. William Hurt shows up in the last act with a wink of amusement. There are similarities to “Killshot” with Mickey Rourke, Thomas Jane and Diane Lane, which came out three years later. If you like one, you’ll probably like the other. It runs 1 hour, 36 minutes, and was shot in the greater Toronto area with the town scenes done in Millbrook, which is an hour’s drive east of the city and a dozen miles inland from Lake Ontario. GRADE: B

Wuchak03 Nov, 2025