DramaThrillerCrime

A History of Violence

- Tom Stall had the perfect life...until he became a hero.

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

Release Date : 2005-09-23

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : New Line CinemaBenderSpinkMedia I! Filmproduktion München & Company

Production Country : CanadaGermanyUnited KingdomUnited States of America

Alternative Titles : A History of Violence

Cast

Character Name : Tom Stall / Joey Cusack

Original Name : Viggo Mortensen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Edie Stall

Original Name : Maria Bello

Gender : Female

Character Name : Carl Fogarty

Original Name : Ed Harris

Gender : Male

Character Name : Richie Cusack

Original Name : William Hurt

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jack Stall

Original Name : Ashton Holmes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sheriff Sam Carney

Original Name : Peter MacNeill

Gender : Male

Character Name : Leland

Original Name : Stephen McHattie

Gender : Male

Character Name : Billy

Original Name : Greg Bryk

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bobby

Original Name : Kyle Schmid

Gender : Male

Character Name : Judy Danvers

Original Name : Sumela Kay

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mick

Original Name : Gerry Quigley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Charlotte

Original Name : Deborah Drakeford

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sarah Stall

Original Name : Heidi Hayes

Gender : Female

Character Name : Charlie Roarke

Original Name : Aidan Devine

Gender : Male

Character Name : Frank Mulligan

Original Name : Bill MacDonald

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jenny Wyeth

Original Name : Michelle McCree

Gender : Female

Character Name : Ruben

Original Name : Ian Matthews

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pat

Original Name : R.D. Reid

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bobby's Buddy

Original Name : Morgan Kelly

Gender : Male

Character Name : Shoe Saleswoman

Original Name : Martha Reilly

Gender : Female

Character Name : Richie's Thug

Original Name : Jason Barbeck

Gender : Male

Character Name : Richie's Thug

Original Name : Bruce Beaton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Richie's Thug

Original Name : Neven Pajkic

Gender : Male

Character Name : Local TV Reporter

Original Name : Brendan Connor

Gender : Male

Character Name : Local TV Reporter

Original Name : Nick Antonacci

Gender : Male

Character Name : Baseball Coach

Original Name : John Watson

Gender : Male

Character Name : TV Broadcaster

Original Name : Don Allison

Gender : Male

Character Name : Motel Girl

Original Name : Brittany Payer

Gender : Female

Character Name : Kid in Diner

Original Name : Mitch Boughs

Gender : Male

Character Name : Kid in Diner

Original Name : April Mullen

Gender : Female

Character Name : Hospital Well-Wisher

Original Name : George King

Gender : Male

Character Name : Orderly

Original Name : Shawn Campbell

Gender : Male

Reviews

Gimly

@Ruuz

2021-06-23

Probably Cronenberg's most mundane work, but that's not even remotely a knock against _A History of Violence_. I hear tell that fans of the comic don't much like this big screen re-telling, but I've never read it, so I'm gonna go ahead and really enjoy it anyway. _Final rating:★★★½ - I really liked it. Would strongly recommend you give it your time._

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-03-09

We start with images of two rather brutal hoodlums who have robbed and massacred the staff at a roadside motel and then sort of follow them into a town where "Tom" (Viggo Mortensen) runs the diner. They stop by one afternoon, intent on causing a bit of mayhem, only to discover that their host is a bit more capable of defending himself than they'd anticipated. Quickly "Tom" is lauded as an hero, and wife "Edie" (Maria Bello) and kids "Jack" (Ashton Holmes) and "Sarah" (Heidi Hayes) are proud to have their dad at home. What he hadn't anticipated, though, is that the publicity would attract the attention of one-eyed gangster "Fogarty" (Ed Harris) who arrives and starts calling him "Joey". Who's "Joey"? Well we quickly find out that nothing is as it seems and we gradually begin to realise that the past always has an habit of catching up with you. This is a violent film, but oddly enough I felt it rather visually tame as the pieces start to fall into place and the arrival of William Hurt signals an escalation that cleverly marries the comically menacing with the somewhat predictable conclusion. There's not a great deal of dialogue here, though not quite on the Clint Eastwood scale, and Mortensen holds it together increasingly well as we move along. It's one of the few films that I feel could have added half an hour or so, just so we get to grips a bit better with the characterisations and concomitant baggage, but as it is - it's well worth a look.