A History of Violence Details

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Don't believe the hype...

..if this is really the best that is coming out of Hollywood then we're in dire straits.

Cronenberg's film combines a simplistic and unconvincing plot with an emotionless and frankly disturbing fascination with violence that never seeks to look beneath the surface of the issues that it purports to explore.

A bland American family have their lives turned upside down when a former mobster, now seeking to live the American dream for reasons that we are never able to fathom, is reconnected with his former past by a chance encounter with a pair of itinerant sociopaths.

As our mobster-turned-pillar-of-the-community is forced to confront characters from his violent past, he kills off the baddies in a style that would not put Bruce Lee to shame. We learn nothing of his emotional state, there is no exploration of how his family make sense of his terrible past and, in a truly cringing ending, are left with the idea that, in America, murderous violence goes unchallenged as long as it does not impact on everyday life.

If you are a 'how many killings?' viewer then this might be for you..otherwise look elsewhere if you want to be challenged, moved or enlightened. Believe me, this is no commentary on the roots or consequences of underground violence.

a history of violence

I very much enjoyed this film. I felt the story was well developed, it was pacey and well acted. very good