A History of Violence (2005) Movie Review

Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello
Directed by: David Cronenberg

----Spoilers included-------
The story is quite simple. Tom Stall, played by Viggo Mortensen, lives in a small town and is the ideal husband & dad. Tom kills two men who are trying rob his diner one night. The publicity that surrounds this event brings back gangsters who claim that he is a violent criminal running away from his past. Initially Ton denies his past & the allegations but it eventually becomes clear that Tom is actually a former mafioso named Joey Cusack, who has been tracked down by his brother, with whom he has unfinished business. Rest of the story revolves around his unfinished business with his brother and coming back to family. script got following minor problems. The slow reveal of story is quite unsettling & graphic violence & some poor sex scenes awkward and without a real point or symbolism. However Maria Bello gives the performance of her career as Tom's wife & Viggo performance also solid. In short it is powerful & solid David Cronenberg movie and well made from a technical point of view. Strictly not for kid or teens.