A History of Violence

Directed by David Cronenberg and based on the graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke, A History of Violence is a masterfully tense thriller that examines the nature of identity and the inescapable pull of the past. Viggo Mortensen stars as Tom Stall, a mild-mannered diner owner in a small Indiana town whose quiet life is shattered after he kills two criminals in self-defense. This act of heroism brings national media attention, drawing the gaze of ruthless mobsters Carl Fogarty (Ed Harris) and Richie Cusack (William Hurt), who claim Tom is actually a long-lost Philadelphia hitman named Joey Cusack. Maria Bello delivers a powerful performance as Tom’s wife, Edie, who must grapple with the sudden realization that her husband may not be the man she thought he was. Featuring Ashton Holmes and Peter MacNeill, the film is a visceral exploration of how violence ripples through a family and a community. With its sharp screenplay by Josh Olson and a haunting score by Howard Shore, this New Line Platinum Series release is a provocative and acclaimed look at the darkness beneath the surface of the American Dream.