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A History of Violence (2005)

7.5
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Ratings: 7.5/10 from 136,344 users   Metascore: 81/100
Reviews: 1,091 user | 426 critic | 37 from Metacritic.com

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.

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(graphic novel), (graphic novel), 1 more credit »
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Title: A History of Violence (2005)

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Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 35 wins & 34 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Sheriff Sam Carney
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Billy
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Bobby Singer
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Gerry Quigley ...
Mick
Deborah Drakeford ...
Charlotte
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Sarah Stall
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Charlie Roarke
Bill MacDonald ...
Frank Mulligan
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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, they are forced to confront their relationships and the... Written by Anthony Pereyra {hypersonic91@yahoo.com}

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

violence | indiana | robbery | diner | mobster | See more »

Taglines:

Everyone has something to hide. See more »

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong brutal violence, graphic sexuality, nudity, language and some drug use | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

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Language:

Release Date:

30 September 2005 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Una historia violenta  »

Filming Locations:

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Box Office

Budget:

$32,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$34,911 (Chile) (17 March 2006)

Gross:

$89,838 (Chile) (31 March 2006)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

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Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

William Hurt filmed his role in only five days. See more »

Goofs

When Tom comes home from the hospital after being treated for a shoulder wound, it is clearly Fall. A short time later the sheriff pulls into the driveway and the trees are all green. See more »

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.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Be Kind Rewind (2008) See more »

Soundtracks

"Club Hoppin'"
Written by Michael Foster and Darrell 'Digga' Branch
Performed by Blinky Blink
Courtesy of Spirit Music Group
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
excellent, but not for the kiddies
6 October 2005 | by (london uk) – See all my reviews

This is, like all Cronenberg's work, a mythic movie. It occupies the world of "monsters" that Tom Stall's daughter dreams about at the start. It's as if we get to see the little girl's nightmare as the film unfolds. It's because of this poetic, super-real quality that criticisms from the "this isn't real life" brigade have no relevance. The screenplay is exceptionally tight and well-woven - no image is wasted. The subplot of the son's troubles with a school bully parallels the main plot. The very existence of the son is there to show the inheritance - the history - of violence. The sex scenes are there to show the proximity of lust and violence. The end can be nothing other than what it is: as someone else on IMDb has commented, the genie is out of the bottle. This is true for the family in the film, the society we see surrounding the family, and it's true for our families and our society. It's about the inexhaustible rage of humans. It couldn't be more relevant, it couldn't be more timeless. It is well acted and beautifully photographed. I have some minor reservations - did we really need so much of Howard Shore's music? - but on the whole I think this is a superb film. Not for the kiddies, however.


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