Comic Movie DB

A History of Violence

Name: A History of Violence
Director: David Cronenberg
Genre: crime, drame
Released: 2005-04-27
Duration: 1 hr 36 min
Rating: 9
Cast: Ashton Holmes, Ed Harris, Maria Bello, Viggo Mortensen, William Hurt

2005 1 hr 36 min 18 DC Comics Extended Universe

9/10 CMDB Rating

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A History of Violence Storyline

A History of Violence follows Tom Stall, a quiet family man running a small-town diner whose life changes forever after he kills two criminals in self-defense and becomes a local hero. As attention grows, dangerous strangers arrive claiming Tom is not who he says he is. Based on the graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke, the film explores identity, violence and whether anyone can truly escape their past.

A History of Violence Director David Cronenberg

A History of Violence Release date 27/04/2026

Genres

crime drame

A History of Violence Content rating 18

A History of Violence Duration 1 hr 36 min

Last Updated 27/04/2026

Cast

Ashton Holmes Ed Harris Maria Bello Viggo Mortensen William Hurt

Cast of A History of Violence

Ashton Holmes

Ed Harris

Maria Bello

Viggo Mortensen

William Hurt

A History of Violence Review - 9/10 Rating

This is one of the smartest comic-book adaptations ever made because it barely feels like one. David Cronenberg turns a simple premise into something tense, unsettling and deeply human. Viggo Mortensen is exceptional, balancing warmth and buried menace perfectly, while the supporting cast adds real weight. It is brutal when it needs to be, but never for spectacle. Instead, it asks uncomfortable questions about family, memory and who we really are. Quietly brilliant filmmaking.