Barnes & Noble

Known for surrealist films and a fascination with grotesqueries, Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg won accolades for this seemingly straightforward adaptation of John Wagner and Vince Locke's graphic novel A History of Violence. The tale introduces Tom Stall, an upstanding citizen of Millbrook, Indiana, an idyllic American small town where everyone seems to be on a first-name basis. Tom, portrayed by Lord of the Rings star Viggo Mortensen, lives a happy, ordinary life with his pretty wife (Maria Bello), teenage son (Ashton Holmes), and young daughter (Heidi Hayes). But one day, two "bad men" walk into Tom's diner, intent on holding the place up and leaving no witnesses alive. In self-defense, Tom kills the two criminals and is labeled an American Hero by the media, though he is uneasy with all the attention. For good reason: soon, three more "bad men" come to town, one of whom (Ed Harris) claims to know Tom -- though he calls him Joey -- and is looking to settle an old score. A History of Violence is the kind of all-American movie that could only be made by someone from Canada, a country that's superficially similar to its southern neighbor but does not share its fascination with guns. Everything is a little too perfect, too nice in Millbrook, and from the unforgettable single-take opening sequence on, tension and dread hang heavy in the air. Cronenberg manages to have his cake and eat it too, crafting a film that works both as a revenge thriller and social critique. Performances from the entire cast are strong but not flashy, apart from William Hurt's brief, hammy, Oscar-nominated turn as a ghost from Tom's past. Although Cronenberg restrains his penchant for gore, the film's brutal acts still register viscerally -- making a strong case that no matter how justified, violence is rarely worth the consequences. Bill Pearis

All Movie Guide

David Cronenberg directed this screen adaptation of a graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke which explores how an act of heroism unexpectedly changes a man's life. Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) lives a quiet life in a small Indiana town, running the local diner with his wife, Edie (Maria Bello), and raising their two children. But the quiet is shattered one day when a pair of criminals on the run from the police walk into his diner just before closing time. After they attack one of the customers and seem ready to kill several of the people inside, Tom jumps to the fore, grabbing a gun from one of the criminals and killing the invaders. Tom is immediately hailed as a hero by his employees and the community at large, but Tom seems less than comfortable with his new notoriety. One day, a man with severe facial scars, Carl Fogarty (Ed Harris), sits down at the counter and begins addressing Tom as Joey, and begins asking him questions about the old days in Philadelphia. While Tom seems puzzled, Carl's actions suggest that the quiet man pouring coffee at the diner may have a dark and violent past he isn't eager to share with others -- as well as some old scores that haven't been settled. Mark Deming

Village Voice

Cronenberg's movie manages to have its cake and eat it--impersonating an action flick in its staccato mayhem while questioning these violent attractions every step of the way. J. Hoberman

New York Times

A masterpiece of indirection and pure visceral thrills, David Cronenberg's latest mindblower, A History of Violence, is the feel-good, feel-bad movie of the year. Manohla Dargis

Product Details

• UPC: 883929037926
• Source: NEW LINE HOME VIDEO
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Time: 1:36:00
• Sales Rank: 25,098

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• New Line Crime Collection

Features: