Review of A History of Violence (2005) by Terhi S — 05 Jun 2010
I'm sure Cronenberg was aiming for some kind of worthy, anti-violence social commentary with this flick, but, alas, I came to an opposing conclusion. Couldn't the Stalls be taken as a personification of so-called civilized man, claiming to have moved beyond its animality whilst simply repressing it? That's how I read it, at least.
It's when the Stall males decide to embrace that darker side (personified, In Stall Sr, as a criminal past) that things take a turn for the better in their lives. Sure that precarious closing scene likes to be read as "uncertainty", but that sex scene between Stall and his missus, prior to the *ahem* climax, paints a more interesting take on their future.
A great little film with a good balance of understated and hyperviolent scenes---fitting for its depiction of man as a rational ANIMAL.
This review of A History of Violence (2005) was written by Terhi S on 05 Jun 2010.
A History of Violence has generally received very positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
