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IMDbPro

A History of Violence

  • 20052005
  • RR
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
238K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,982
50
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
ActionCrimeDrama
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
238K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,982
50
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • 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
    • 448Critic reviews
    • 81Metascore
    • 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 Stall
    Maria Bello
    Maria Bello
    • Edie Stall
    Ed Harris
    Ed Harris
    • Carl Fogarty
    William Hurt
    William Hurt
    • Richie Cusack
    Ashton Holmes
    Ashton Holmes
    • Jack Stall
    Peter MacNeill
    Peter MacNeill
    • Sheriff Sam Carney
    Stephen McHattie
    Stephen McHattie
    • Leland
    Greg Bryk
    Greg Bryk
    • Billy
    Kyle Schmid
    Kyle Schmid
    • Bobby Singer
    Sumela Kay
    Sumela Kay
    • Judy Danvers
    Gerry Quigley
    • Mick
    Deborah Drakeford
    Deborah Drakeford
    • Charlotte
    Heidi Hayes
    Heidi Hayes
    • Sarah Stall
    Aidan Devine
    Aidan Devine
    • Charlie Roarke
    Bill MacDonald
    • Frank Mulligan
    Michelle McCree
    • Jenny Wyeth
    Ian Matthews
    Ian Matthews
    • Ruben
    R.D. Reid
    • Pat
    • Director
      • David Cronenberg
    • Writers
      • John Wagner(graphic novel)
      • Vince Locke(graphic novel)
      • Josh Olson(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more 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
      Edited into A History of Violence: Deleted Scene - Scene 44 (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      Life of a Fool
      Written by Paul Burch

      Performed by Paul Burch

      Courtesy of Bloodshot Records

    User reviews1.2K

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    excellent, but not for the kiddies
    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.
    helpful•305
    165
    • gsygsy
    • Oct 6, 2005

    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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