I was raised on the body-shock horror of David Cronenberg's earlier films (Shivers, Rabid, Scanners), and grew to love the weird, twisted, and often very bloody imagery that typified his 70s and 80s cinema. But for the last decade or so, his output has appealed to me less and less, with efforts such as Spider, M. Butterfly, and Crashmovies that appear to be more art-house than horrorfailing to pique my interest.
However, on the strength of some very positive reviews, and an intriguing trailer, I decided to give this one a go, to see if the film could reignite my interest in the Canadian auteur's career.
A violent (natch!) tale of revenge and redemption, A History Of Violence sees Viggo Mortensen as Tom Stall, a small-town family man who becomes a media sensation after he foils a violent robbery in his diner (by disarming the criminals and killing them both!).
Unfortunately, Tom's sudden fame brings him to the attention of a gangster and his cronies, who believe that the reluctant hero is actually a fellow criminal who has gone into hiding after upsetting his peers. The bad guys show up in Tom's town and begin to cause trouble for him and his family.
Whilst I wouldn't exactly say that I have seen the light, and returned to the fold, happy once more to worship at the altar of Cronenberg, I will admit to enjoying A History Of Violence. But perhaps not on the level that the director might have been hoping for.
As Tom's perfect world starts to fall apart, we witness the impact that this has on all members of his family, and see how their relationships evolve. I believe Cronenberg's intention was for his audience to think long and hard on the subject of morality (was Mortensen's character good or bad and did he deserve a second chance at happiness), and how not being honest with those that you love can result in tragedy.
Unfortunately, I wasn't completely sold on the deep and meaningful stuff; it seemed a little forced to me. But I did find the film tense and disturbing, enjoying the mystery as it unfolded, and I also appreciated the many nasty scenes in which Viggo gets brutal on the baddies, snapping their necks, shooting them at close range, crushing larynxes, and even punching one guy's nose-bone into his cranium. There's also quite a bit of frenetic sex in the film for all of the pervs amongst us, including impromptu rutting on the stairs and a 69 (between Tom and his tasty wife, played by Maria Bello, who kindly flashes her beaver).
A History Of Violence isn't classic Cronenberg, but it has made me interested enough to want to see what his next film can offer me in the way of sex and violence.
However, on the strength of some very positive reviews, and an intriguing trailer, I decided to give this one a go, to see if the film could reignite my interest in the Canadian auteur's career.
A violent (natch!) tale of revenge and redemption, A History Of Violence sees Viggo Mortensen as Tom Stall, a small-town family man who becomes a media sensation after he foils a violent robbery in his diner (by disarming the criminals and killing them both!).
Unfortunately, Tom's sudden fame brings him to the attention of a gangster and his cronies, who believe that the reluctant hero is actually a fellow criminal who has gone into hiding after upsetting his peers. The bad guys show up in Tom's town and begin to cause trouble for him and his family.
Whilst I wouldn't exactly say that I have seen the light, and returned to the fold, happy once more to worship at the altar of Cronenberg, I will admit to enjoying A History Of Violence. But perhaps not on the level that the director might have been hoping for.
As Tom's perfect world starts to fall apart, we witness the impact that this has on all members of his family, and see how their relationships evolve. I believe Cronenberg's intention was for his audience to think long and hard on the subject of morality (was Mortensen's character good or bad and did he deserve a second chance at happiness), and how not being honest with those that you love can result in tragedy.
Unfortunately, I wasn't completely sold on the deep and meaningful stuff; it seemed a little forced to me. But I did find the film tense and disturbing, enjoying the mystery as it unfolded, and I also appreciated the many nasty scenes in which Viggo gets brutal on the baddies, snapping their necks, shooting them at close range, crushing larynxes, and even punching one guy's nose-bone into his cranium. There's also quite a bit of frenetic sex in the film for all of the pervs amongst us, including impromptu rutting on the stairs and a 69 (between Tom and his tasty wife, played by Maria Bello, who kindly flashes her beaver).
A History Of Violence isn't classic Cronenberg, but it has made me interested enough to want to see what his next film can offer me in the way of sex and violence.