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A History of Violence

A History of Violence

Drama · Thriller · Crime · 2005

An average family is thrust into the spotlight after the father commits a seemingly self-defense murder at his diner.

Movie details

A History of Violence

“Tom Stall had the perfect life...until he became a hero.”

2005 Drama · Thriller · Crime 1h 36m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.2 / 10

Community rating

An average family is thrust into the spotlight after the father commits a seemingly self-defense murder at his diner.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over A History of Violence?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Crime · 2002

After the murder of his beloved wife, a man in search of redemption is set adrift in a world where nothing is as it seems. On his journey, he befriends slacker Jimmy "The Finn", becomes involved in rescuing his neighbor Colette from her own demons, and gets entangled in a web of deceit full of unexpected twists and turns.

Reservoir Dogs

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Crime · 1992

A botched robbery indicates a police informant, and the pressure mounts in the aftermath at a warehouse. Crime begets violence as the survivors -- veteran Mr. White, newcomer Mr. Orange, psychopathic parolee Mr. Blonde, bickering weasel Mr. Pink and Nice Guy Eddie -- unravel.

Mr. Brooks

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A psychological thriller about a man who is sometimes controlled by his murder-and-mayhem-loving alter ego.

Kill the Irishman

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Payback

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State Property

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

David Cronenberg

Written by

Josh Olson

Viggo Mortensen

Viggo Mortensen

Tom Stall / Joey Cusack

Maria Bello

Maria Bello

Edie Stall

Ed Harris

Ed Harris

Carl Fogarty

William Hurt

William Hurt

Richie Cusack

Ashton Holmes

Ashton Holmes

Jack Stall

Peter MacNeill

Peter MacNeill

Sheriff Sam Carney

Stephen McHattie

Stephen McHattie

Leland

Court is in session

Put A History of Violence on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Big-Idea Head

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.