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IMDbPro

A History of Violence

  • 20052005
  • RR
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
237K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,331
472
Viggo Mortensen and Maria Bello in A History of Violence (2005)
Home Video Trailer from New Line Cinema
Play trailer2:26
3 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Crime
  • Drama
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
237K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,331
472
  • Director
    • David Cronenberg
  • Writers
    • John Wagner(graphic novel)
    • Vince Locke(graphic novel)
    • Josh Olson(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Viggo Mortensen
    • Maria Bello
    • Ed Harris
Top credits
  • Director
    • David Cronenberg
  • Writers
    • John Wagner(graphic novel)
    • Vince Locke(graphic novel)
    • Josh Olson(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Viggo Mortensen
    • Maria Bello
    • Ed Harris
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1.2KUser reviews
    • 447Critic reviews
    • 81Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 37 wins & 84 nominations total

    Videos3

    A History of Violence
    Trailer 2:26
    A History of Violence
    A History of Violence
    Clip 0:42
    A History of Violence
    A History of Violence
    Clip 0:53
    A History of Violence

    Photos137

    Ed Harris in A History of Violence (2005)
    Viggo Mortensen and Maria Bello in A History of Violence (2005)
    William Hurt in A History of Violence (2005)
    Maria Bello in A History of Violence (2005)
    Maria Bello in A History of Violence (2005)
    Maria Bello in A History of Violence (2005)
    Viggo Mortensen and Maria Bello in A History of Violence (2005)
    David Cronenberg in A History of Violence (2005)
    David Cronenberg, Viggo Mortensen, and Maria Bello in A History of Violence (2005)
    David Cronenberg in A History of Violence (2005)
    David Cronenberg and Viggo Mortensen in A History of Violence (2005)
    William Hurt at an event for A History of Violence (2005)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Viggo Mortensen
    Viggo Mortensen
    • Tom Stallas Tom Stall
    Maria Bello
    Maria Bello
    • Edie Stallas Edie Stall
    Ed Harris
    Ed Harris
    • Carl Fogartyas Carl Fogarty
    William Hurt
    William Hurt
    • Richie Cusackas Richie Cusack
    Ashton Holmes
    Ashton Holmes
    • Jack Stallas Jack Stall
    Peter MacNeill
    Peter MacNeill
    • Sheriff Sam Carneyas Sheriff Sam Carney
    Stephen McHattie
    Stephen McHattie
    • Lelandas Leland
    Greg Bryk
    Greg Bryk
    • Billyas Billy
    Kyle Schmid
    Kyle Schmid
    • Bobby Singeras Bobby Singer
    Sumela Kay
    Sumela Kay
    • Judy Danversas Judy Danvers
    Gerry Quigley
    • Mickas Mick
    Deborah Drakeford
    Deborah Drakeford
    • Charlotteas Charlotte
    Heidi Hayes
    Heidi Hayes
    • Sarah Stallas Sarah Stall
    Aidan Devine
    Aidan Devine
    • Charlie Roarkeas Charlie Roarke
    Bill MacDonald
    • Frank Mulliganas Frank Mulligan
    Michelle McCree
    • Jenny Wyethas Jenny Wyeth
    Ian Matthews
    Ian Matthews
    • Rubenas Ruben
    R.D. Reid
    • Patas Pat
    • Director
      • David Cronenberg
    • Writers
      • John Wagner(graphic novel)
      • Vince Locke(graphic novel)
      • Josh Olson(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During an interview, Viggo Mortensen stated that during the shooting of the first bar scene with Ed Harris he could not stop laughing, and as a result, the scene had to be re-shot several times. Due to Viggo Mortensen's behavior, Ed Harris completed the scene without pants; he only wore his underwear, yet this cannot be seen as the bar table impedes our view. Thus, Viggo Mortensen had to act seriously while Ed Harris was not wearing any pants, and this is the scene that is used in the movie.
    • Goofs
      In the high school softball game, the bully comes up to the plate carrying a wooden bat, but the sound heard when he hits the ball is the sound of an aluminum bat.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Richie Cusack: [Joey holds a gun to Richie's head] Jesus, Joey.

      Tom Stall: [as Joey shoots Richie in the head, then stands over his dead body] Jesus, Richie.

    • Alternate versions
      There are some minute differences between the US and the International version when it comes to some of the violent scenes:
      • Fogarty's thug, who gets his nose smashed into his skull has more blood spurt out in the International version in the shot where he is dying on the ground.
      • When Joey stomps on Richie's thug's throat, he spits blood (instead of it 'welling up') and the sound effect of the neck breaking is louder. Both shots last the same length of time and use the same take, the amount of blood was simply toned down digitally for the MPAA. Most video versions outside the U.S. use the 'international version' but the shots appear in the supplements on the U.S. DVD (In the featurette titled 'Violence's History', Cronenberg shows the U.S. and international cut scenes side by side and explains the reason why there wasn't a standard 'unrated' version in the U.S. was because the changes were so small).
    • Connections
      Featured in HBO First Look: A History of Violence (2005)
    • Soundtracks
      Life of a Fool
      Written by Paul Burch

      Performed by Paul Burch

      Courtesy of Bloodshot Records

    User reviews1.2K

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Straw Dogs comparisons be damned, this is a riveting experience that finds Cronenberg bringing his "A" game.
    We are in a a small community driven town, restaurant owner Tom Stall becomes the hero of the town when he shoots and kills two murdering robbers at the restaurant. Not long after, facially scarred Carl Fogarty arrives in town proclaiming that Tom is actually a former gangster from Philadelphia who needs to go back to pay his dues. As Fogarty and his Hench Men put the pressure on, Stall and his family are in danger of being overwhelmed with violence and mistrust.

    One thing that can never be said about David Cronenberg is that he is a very predictable director, his output of course, if we are all honest, is very up and down, bewildering critics and fans in equal measure. Thankfully A History Of Violence finds Cronenberg on particularly devilish form, taking the graphic novel origins of the piece, written by John Wagner & Vince Locke, and crafting a modern day Western that is using violence as some sort of escalating disease. This is the point surely? The graphic violence (handled with morose tension by Cronenberg) is the main character in the film, regardless of any past history that Stall may have had, the violence arrives into this family, totally unwanted and unexpected, and then latches on to them to maybe destroy them?

    With that point of interest to note, A History Of Violence can be seen as a blood brother to Cronenberg's wonderful remake of The Fly, the unwanted entering the fray and spreading its disease to the point of no return. There is the use of the husband and wife's ongoing sex life as a seriously smart strand in the escalating story, where once at the beginning there is fluffy erotic intercourse, then the on going danger in their lives brings darkness and borderline sadism, it's very relevant, as is the son axis as he goes through a dramatic change when the violence and threats engulf the family. Cronenberg gleefully ties all the murky threads together to ask us for a reaction to the violence up there on the screen.

    The cast, with the exception of a fish out of water performance from Ashton Holmes as the son, Jack, is fine. Viggo Motensen plays the duality of the role as Tom Stall with much verve, while Maria Bello shows exactly why she shouldn't be working for food in hopeless miscast assignments like The Mummy 3. Ed Harris gives us a nice line in villain duties, and William Hurt crops up late in the piece to almost steal the film with his darkly disturbing menacing point of worth. Peter Suschitzky's photography enhances the primary colours for added impact when the mood swings down dark roads, and Howard Shore's musical score is constantly ominous, where he blends his own score for Silence of the Lambs with a sort of Berlioz like edginess.

    All in all it's a very interesting and sneakily crafty picture that above all else shows that when on form, Cronenberg still has very much to offer modern age cinema. Now, about Straw Dogs? 8.5/10
    helpful•35
    18
    • hitchcockthelegend
    • Nov 17, 2008

    FAQ7

    • Is 'A History of Violence' based on a book?
    • Does Tom suffer from MPD? Because at times, he looks and sounds like he really believes his own lies when he vehemently denies being the person Joey Cusack.
    • What's the deal with the second sex scene? It seemed random and out of place.

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 30, 2005 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Canada
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Quá Khứ Tội Ác
    • Filming locations
      • Millbrook, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • New Line Cinema
      • BenderSpink
      • Media I! Filmproduktion München & Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $32,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $31,504,633
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $364,000
      • Sep 25, 2005
    • Gross worldwide
      • $61,385,065
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 36 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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