A History of Violence (4K): Criterion Collection Review

A History of Violence, Spine #1283, will be available on the Criterion Collection on October 21, 2025.

I once asked a friend, “What’s the worst movie you’ve ever watched in theaters?” His answer was, surprisingly, A History of Violence. Needless to say, I’m no longer friends with that man. That answer is ridiculous, but it is easy to understand why Cronenberg’s adaptation of the 1997 graphic novel wouldn’t connect with everybody. Cronenberg is, after all, a divisive filmmaker. Those who love his work like I do are drawn to the peculiarities in his style. A History of Violence feels unlike the majority of his filmography, but maintains the undeniable essence of Cronenberg.

What is A History of Violence about?

Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King) is a simple man living a modest life. He runs a small diner in a quiet town where he’s respected and loved by the townsfolk. When two dangerous men show up in his diner one night, Tom is forced to fight violence with violence and, in doing so, turns his life upside down. Soon, the mob shows up, accusing Tom of being a connected man named Joey Cusack, threatening the peaceful life he has built with his family.

A History of Violence review

A History of Violence is a movie of contrasts. The film’s opening depicts a moment of utter brutality, perpetrated by two callous and ruthless criminals. From there, we immediately transition into the home of Tom Stall and his idyllic family. The scenes in Millbrook, Indiana, are overtly cheesy, featuring a score and delivered dialogue reminiscent of a 90s feel-good sitcom or after-school special. The majority of the performances are unrealistically chipper, except the outsiders who venture into the town with ill intentions.

Ed Harris as Carl Fogarty, an ominous mobster who suspects Tom isn’t who he says he his, plays the role with a chilling calmness that contradicts the world around him. His screen time is minimal, but within that short period of time, he establishes a lifetime of character development. Similarly, William Hurt delivers a standout performance as Richie Cusack, earning himself an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor despite less than ten minutes of screen time. George Clooney ultimately won for Syriana, a film that’s ultimately forgotten.

Going into A History of Violence with the expectation of a straightforward or traditional thriller is setting yourself up for failure. Nothing Cronenberg does is traditional. My introduction to him as a filmmaker was The Fly, which I watched at too young an age, but instantly fell in love with. As I grew older, I delved into his filmography, much of which was thanks to the Criterion Collection. Similar to David Lynch, he’s a man with a distinct vision, and his depiction of small-town living bubbles over with violence and sex.

A History of Violence is the first of his films I was able to see in cinemas (I watched it with that old friend of mine who didn’t love the movie the same way I did), and watching the violence unfold and the truth of this hidden past come to focus remains one of my favorite cinema-going experiences of my lifetime. It’s darkly comedic, brutally violent, and strangely orchestrated in the way that only Cronenberg can manage. The film marked the first of many collaborations between Mortensen and Cronenberg, a pairing that I hope continues for many years.