A History of Violence (2005)

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 Overview

A History of Violence is David Cronenberg’s 2005 crime thriller that is based on the graphic novel of the same name. The screen play, by Josh Olson, was only loosely based on the graphic novel and differs greatly from its paperback counterpart. Viggo Mortenson stars as the diner owner and family man Tom Stall who defends his friends during a robbery. The heroic gesture garnered national attention and eventually mobsters turn up in the town, accusing Tom of being a man named Joey, a hitman from Philadelphia.

Production

The film was mainly produced in the small town of Millbrook, Ontario. The only scenes that moved away from the main story is the climactic ending, filmed at Eaton Hall mansion, which is located in Kings City, Ontario, Canada.

Release

Originally A History of Violence only saw a limited release, after a successful screening at the Cannes Film Festival. The limited release gained good praise and eventually went in to a wide release across the US in September of 2005. The limited release consisted of 14 theatres, grossing $515,992 which averaged at $36,856 per theatre.   A week after the successful release the film was further released in to 1,340 theatres, and grossed $8,103,077 in it’s first weekend. The film went on to gross $31,504,633 in the US and $60,334,064 Worldwide.

Reception

A History of Violence received good reviews from critics and movie goers alike. Rotten Tomato ranks the film at 86% and Metacritic holds the number at 81.