Review of A History of Violence (2005) by Dc F — 30 Apr 2013

Some viewers think that "History of Violence" is Cronenberg's most remarkable film since "The Fly" and "Dead Ringers" of the 90s!!! I watched it one more time, really wanted to like it, but decided again it's nothing but a crap. With its dumb plot, so-so casting, ridiculous sex scenes, gratuitous violence and unnecessary amounts of blood & gore, it is a mediocre, B-movie at best. Although the start of the movie is promising with a highly disturbing sequence (which was forced, plastic and surreal too), it loses steam in the second half because its too hard to digest the fact that Tom Stall was able to live a lie and hide his real identity from his wife and children for so long. Also, the storyline was slow and unconvincing in several parts. I think Cronenberg hoped that strong, sharp and bloody scenery would enhance the movie, but the it wasn't smart enough. Especially, sex scenes were pointless and made little sense for the storyline.

The movie is not a fully-fledged thriller since it doesn't leave you with any mystery, even though Cronenberg thinks it does. However the plot is very, very creative!!!: Once upon a time there was a small-town family man living happily with his family. But he has a great problem: a shady past which would return to haunt him. One night, he kills two random muggers in self-defence while he is about to close his diner and suddenly becomes a local hero. Of course, this hits national news and keen Irish mobsters think he is Joey Sleazebag, a former mob killer, and they have beef with him. Then they begin to haunt his family, so he kills all the mobsters who try to kill him. Then he goes and kills his brother, who was trying to kill him and his henchmen. Yupppieeeee, what a movie...

On the positive side, Ed Harris and William Hurt are excellent villains. That's all..