A History of Violence

6 January 2023

Director: David Cronenberg

See

Him: A History of Violence directed by David Cronenberg follows small town family man Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) whose diner is attacked by men on a killing spree. His response reveals a secret to his wife (Maria Bello) when his past catches up with him when Philadelphia mobsters) Ed Harris and William Hurt) come knocking.

Her: A History of Violence by David Cronenberg starring Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello and William Hurt, a story of Tom Stall, previously known as Joey Cusack in his criminal past, who successfully buries his original identity and starts anew until an unfortunate encounter exposes his face all around the States and his past starts haunting him again. 

Think

Him: Is Viggo Mortensen Tom, or Joey? Are you your present, or past? Seeing him change, from kind, soft spoken Tom, to ferocious, cornered animal Joey with the words, “Go back inside, Jack” to his son, or “You should just leave now,” to Ed Harris’ character. And finally the revealing, “I should’ve killed you back in Philly,” with the accent and cold deliver I found chilling. 

Her: Until the very end I didn’t think there was a chance for Viggo Mortensen’s character to survive. We don’t know much about his past apart from the fact that he knows how to kill and his hand doesn’t shake when he has to. From the very first shooting scene when two men visit the cafe when it’s about to close and Tom kills them almost professionally, it’s clear that he’s practice in the past but in which capacity? If I had a chance I’d like to know more about Hoey, when he became a killer, and what made him quit. His family members also seemed underdeveloped as characters and I’m the most curious about what his son is going to become. The final scene is good but is a bit Hollywood-esque. 

Feel

Him: This is the best depiction of violence I’ve seen on screen. Brutal, sickening, yet compelling. That he’s so good at killing people, but there are only three scenes where he does. They’ve set pieces and surprising. Yet ultimately it’s the theme that captivates me. An abstract idea of why would you do it? If you could, to survive. To save your family. But will the Stalls? I’m hopeful. But glad there’s no sequel. Spiritually Eastern Promises. I will watch Crimes of the Future but hear Cronenberg and Mortensen didn’t pull off a hattrick.

Her: Viggo is incredible. When I watch films it’s usually not acting that captivates me, but the other elements like cinematography, soundtrack, locations or sets - things that I know a lot of people don’t often notice or prioritise. But Mortensen’s performance is mesmerising. That said, I hated both his and Maria Bello’s acting in the first sex scene. She atleast was putting on a performance but Tom looked like he wasn’t enjoying it and trying his best not to show it. The second sex scene was better though it resembled more of a fight and redistribution of power between the, Whatever it was, it worked.