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?? It's not a documentary.

When I sat down in the cinema I didn't know what to expect from this film. All I knew was that Ed Harris and someone from Lord Of The Rings was starring in it. I'll admit I was sceptical, but how wrong I was.

While this is not the greatest film I've ever seen it is certainly one of the best I've seen in the cinema for a while, and certainly good enough for me to pre-order the DVD when it becomes available.

It was well written, well directed by David Cronenberg and was very well cast. Viggo Mortensen was outstanding in the lead role, and Ed Harris exceptional as the sinister bad guy, as always.

For those who are easily shocked be warned, the sex scenes and the violence is very graphic.

But if you are after a slick, intelligent film that gives you a break from the usual Hollywood action movie nonsense, then this is for you.