Review of A History of Violence (2005) by Al M — 04 Aug 2010
A departure from Cronenberg's body horror aesthetic, History of Violence still explores themes familiar from his earlier work: the effects of violence upon human identity, the conflation of violence and sexuality, etc.
Essentially, the history of violence is a story that seems have been developed by fusing Ernest Hemingway's The Killers together with Jacques Tourneur's film noir classic Out of the Past, which starred Robert Mitchum.
It is a film about how the past shapes our identities, how our experiences can ultimately never be forgotten, and how we can never fully squash the beast that lies at the heart of the human condition.
History of Violence is a stylish yet minimalistic film that features stellar performances from Viggo Mortensen, Ed Harris, and William Hurt. Featuring brutal and disturbing scenes that hearken back to Cronenberg's earlier films, History of Violence spends most of its time as a character study of man and woman whose perfect family life is abruptly torn apart by the intrusion of violence.
A turning point in Cronenberg's career that perhaps represents a more mature, reflective vision and riveting thriller that doesn't let up from beginning to end.
This review of A History of Violence (2005) was written by Al M on 04 Aug 2010.
A History of Violence has generally received very positive reviews.
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