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A History of Violence
2005 96 min Germany, United States of America R 18+
★7.8
Drama, Thriller, Crime
Director: David Cronenberg
📖 Based on the novel
«A History of Violence»
Trailers
Description
An average family is thrust into the spotlight after the father commits a seemingly self-defense murder at his diner.
Budget:
$32M
US Gross:
$31.5M
Worldwide:
$61.48M
Starring
Viggo Mortensen
Actor
Maria Bello
Actor
Ed Harris
Actor
Awards
César Awards 2006
— Best International Feature Film
Saturn Awards 2006
— Best Actor
Academy Awards 2006
— Best Adapted Screenplay
Cannes Film Festival 2005
— Palme d'Or
Golden Globe 2006
— Best Picture (Drama)
Golden Globe 2006
— Best Actress (Drama)
Saturn Awards 2006
— Best Action, Adventure or Thriller
BAFTA 2006
— Best Adapted Screenplay
Academy Awards 2006
— Best Supporting Actor
Saturn Awards 2006
— Best Supporting Actor
Key opinion
David Cronenberg’s A History of Violence is widely regarded as a masterful, clinical examination of the inherent duality between domestic stability and suppressed primal aggression. While critics and audiences largely praise Viggo Mortensen’s nuanced lead performance and the film's visceral direction, opinions diverge regarding the narrative's originality and the psychological believability of its concluding emotional beats.
| Acting | Viggo Mortensen delivers a standout, dual-natured performance that effectively captures the shift from a mild-mannered family man to a lethal, hardened figure. | |
| Direction | Cronenberg’s direction utilizes cold, meticulous framing to present violence as a mechanical, non-sensationalized, and visceral reality. | |
| Theme | The film explores deep thematic questions about the possibility of true personal transformation and the necessity of violence in maintaining the American Dream. | |
| Pacing | The pacing divides viewers; some find the slow, contemplative build-up necessary for tension, while others criticize the middle section as dragging or lacking narrative novelty. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay earns praise for its lean structure, yet some critics feel the character motivations—particularly in the final act—are emotionally inconsistent or psychologically implausible. |