IMDb >
A History of Violence (2005)
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsA History of Violence (2005) More at IMDb Pro »
| Photos (see all 12 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 4) |
Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
30 September 2005 (USA) moreTagline:
Everyone has something to hide. morePlot:
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. full summary | full synopsisAwards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 26 wins & 31 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(27 articles)
Josh Olson writing 'One Shot' (From The Hollywood News. 26 September 2008, 6:59 AM, PDT)
Reacher rambles in (From JoBlo. 25 September 2008, 4:54 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
An Unsettling Film Which Defies Description (nearly) moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Viggo Mortensen | ... | Tom Stall | |
| Maria Bello | ... | Edie Stall | |
| Ed Harris | ... | Carl Fogarty | |
| William Hurt | ... | Richie Cusack | |
| Ashton Holmes | ... | Jack Stall | |
| Peter MacNeill | ... | Sheriff Sam Carney | |
| Stephen McHattie | ... | Leland | |
| Greg Bryk | ... | Billy | |
| Kyle Schmid | ... | Bobby | |
| Sumela Kay | ... | Judy Danvers | |
| Gerry Quigley | ... | Mick | |
| Deborah Drakeford | ... | Charlotte | |
| Heidi Hayes | ... | Sarah Stall | |
| Aidan Devine | ... | Charlie Roarke | |
| Bill MacDonald | ... | Frank Mulligan |
People Viewing This Page May Also Be Interested In These Sponsored Links (what's this?)
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for strong brutal violence, graphic sexuality, nudity, language and some drug use.Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
96 minLanguage:
EnglishColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreCertification:
Finland:K-15 | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Philippines:R-13 | Australia:MA | Singapore:R21 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:16 | France:-12 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Hong Kong:III | Japan:R-15 | Indonesia:Dewasa | Czech Republic:15 | Mexico:C | Brazil:18 | Sweden:15 | Australia:R (original rating) | New Zealand:R18 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Portugal:M/16 | Iceland:16 | Germany:18 (bw) | Italy:T (re-rated) | Italy:VM14 (original rating) | USA:R (certificate #41604) | Israel:16 | UK:18 | Ireland:18 | Norway:18MOVIEmeter: 
Fun Stuff
Goofs:
Continuity: 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. moreQuotes:
[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.
more
Soundtrack:
Club Hoppin' moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more
Message Boards
Discuss this title with other users on IMDb message board for A History of Violence (2005) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Cidade de Deus | The Godfather | The Departed | Running Scared | Rambo |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Action section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |





















Leaving this film (just an hour ago now) I heard a phrase rolling over and over again in my head: "Wow. Wow". I cannot find adequate words to relate. I found myself saying "Why?...Oh my god!...How?...Wow...". The film touches, it festers, crawls all over and inside you. The film does (I think) what Cronenberg intended it to do; frighten. I'm speaking of real fear that is not spoken out loud, not discussed or screamed about,or even fully understood. The best and only word I have to describe the film is that it is "unsettling". I won't discuss the points relating to the sexuality of the film but will quickly address the violence. I read Cronenberg's answers to some questions raised by the film, most relating to the violence itself. He mentions that it is "intimate, nasty, brutish and quick" also going on at length on the utilitarian nature of the violent acts in the film. This is perhaps the first film I've seen to display violence in, what I consider to be, a true sense. It is over so quickly and before one can marvel at it, the guilt and terror washes over like waves in a storm. It's relatively refreshing, albeit downright sickening, to see a film that can still shock the hell out of what is thought to be a desensitized generation. That being said, one must remember that an author, poet, director etc. NEVER has the final say on what a book, poem or film's meaning is or what its symbols or set pieces are about. Each person in turn must have his or her take on the medium. I'd like to close with my final and wholly overriding thought concerning "A History of Violence": It is a film which I desperately wish to see again but equally compelling is the urge to never, ever see it again. Never have such strong yet equally conflicting views about something so trivial as a film entered my psyche. The rating of 10 is based on my personal experience with the film, not necessarily the merit of the film itself. You may interpret that as you will.