A History of Violence (2005)

Director:

David Cronenberg

Writers (WGA):

John Wagner (graphic novel) and
Vince Locke (graphic novel) ...
(more)

Release Date:

30 September 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Everyone has something to hide.

Plot:

A mild-mannered man becomes a local hero through an act of violence, which sets off repercussions that will shake his family to its very core.

Plot Keywords:

Hero | Violence | Indiana | Bar | Robbery

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 26 wins & 31 nominations

Cast

Viggo Mortensen	...	Tom Stall
Maria Bello	...	Edie Stall
Ed Harris	...	Carl Fogarty
William Hurt	...	Richie Cusack
Ashton Holmes	...	Jack Stall
Peter MacNeill	...	Sheriff Sam Carney
Stephen McHattie	...	Leland
Greg Bryk	...	Billy
Kyle Schmid	...	Bobby
Sumela Kay	...	Judy Danvers
Gerry Quigley	...	Mick
Deborah Drakeford	...	Charlotte
Heidi Hayes	...	Sarah Stall
Aidan Devine	...	Charlie Roarke
Bill MacDonald	...	Frank Mulligan
Michelle McCree	...	Jenny Wyeth
Ian Matthews	...	Ruben
R.D. Reid	...	Pat
Morgan Kelly	...	Bobby's Buddy
Martha Reilly	...	Shoe Saleswoman
Jason Barbeck	...	Richie's Thug
Bruce Beaton	...	Richie's Thug
Neven Pajkic	...	Richie's Thug
Brendan Connor	...	Local TV Reporter
Nick Antonacci	...	Local TV Reporter
John Watson	...	Baseball Coach
Don Allison	...	TV Broadcaster
Brittany Payer	...	Motel Girl
Mitch Boughs	...	Kid in Diner
April Mullen	...	Kid in Diner
George King	...	Hospital Well-Wisher
Shawn Campbell	...	Orderly
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Steve Arbuckle	...	Jared (uncredited)
Connor Price	...	Kid (uncredited)
Evan Rose	...	'Hulk' Boy (uncredited)
Michael Stevens	...	Guy on the Street (uncredited)

Directed by
David Cronenberg

Writing credits (WGA)
John Wagner		(graphic novel) and
Vince Locke		(graphic novel)
Josh Olson		(screenplay)

Produced by
Kent Alterman	....	executive producer
Chris Bender	....	producer
Cale Boyter	....	executive producer
Josh Braun	....	executive producer
Toby Emmerich	....	executive producer
Justis Greene	....	executive producer
Roger Kass	....	executive producer (as Roger E. Kass)
J.C. Spink	....	producer
Jake Weiner	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Howard Shore

Cinematography by
Peter Suschitzky		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ronald Sanders

Casting by
Deirdre Bowen

Production Design by
Carol Spier

Art Direction by
James McAteer

Set Decoration by
Peter P. Nicolakakos

Costume Design by
Denise Cronenberg

Makeup Department
Patrick Baxter	....	prosthetic lab technician
Stephan Dupuis	....	makeup supervisor (as Stéphan Dupuis)
Mary-Lou Green-Benvenuti	....	key hair stylist (as Mary Lou Green-Benvenuti)
Christopher Pizzerelli	....	key makeup artist (as Christopher Pizzarelli)
Divyo Rae Putney	....	assistant hair stylist (as Divyo Putney)
Dorota Zajac	....	assistant makeup artist
Sean Sansom	....	special makeup effects lab technician (uncredited)

Production Management
Jack Deutchman	....	post-production manager
Erik Holmberg	....	executive in charge of production
Jody Levin	....	executive in charge of post-production
Heather Meehan	....	unit production manager
Lori A. Waters	....	post-production supervisor (as Lori Waters)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tyler Delben	....	third assistant director
Aric Dupere	....	trainee assistant director
Walter Gasparovic	....	first assistant director
Elizabeth Parker	....	trainee assistant director (as Elizabeth S.D. 'Duff' Parker)
Jodi A. Tario	....	assistant director
Bob Warwick	....	second assistant director (as Robert Warwick)

Art Department
John Bannister	....	key scenic painter
Deryck Blake	....	property master
Daniel William Brown	....	carpenter (as Daniel Brown)
Michael Bunt	....	carpenter
Malcolm Byard	....	lead dresser
Tom S. Campbell	....	lead painter (as Tim S. Campbell)
Anthony Codd	....	carpenter
James Coppella	....	painter
Janet Cormack	....	scenic assistant (as Janet L. Cormack)
Neil Crawford	....	construction laborer
Joe Curtin	....	construction coordinator
Greg DaPrato	....	set dresser (as Greg Daprato)
Paul Dzatko	....	carpenter
Danielle Fleury	....	assistant set decorator
John Flynn	....	painter
Brad Francis	....	painter
Luke Gibson	....	assistant lead painter
Kevin Haeberlin	....	lead dresser
J. Ryan Halpenny	....	second assistant art director
Scott Howes	....	construction laborer
Henry Ilola	....	carpenter
Paul Jefferson	....	head carpenter
Norman Kelner	....	painter
Itsuko Kurono	....	art department apprentice
Gordon Lebredt	....	set designer
Brian Lumley	....	carpenter
Rick Marshall	....	carpenter
Charles McGlynn	....	assistant property master
Richard McStay	....	assistant head carpenter
Michael J. Meade	....	property buyer
Jae Pak	....	first assistant art director
Thomas Pearce	....	second assistant head carpenter
Greg Pelchat	....	on-set dresser
Jim Peters	....	key greensman
Dusty Reeves	....	art department coordinator
Myles Roth	....	carpenter
Ken Samaroo	....	on-set painter (as Kenneth Samaroo)
Sam Santoro	....	key laborer
Werner Schlatter	....	painter
Tom Sheehan	....	carpenter
Robert S. Smith	....	on-set carpenter
Robert H. Steiner	....	construction auditor
Derek Stephenson	....	painter
Michael Vanderteems	....	on-set greens (as Mike Vanderteems)
Gordon White	....	set designer
Walter Woloschuk	....	lead greensman

Sound Department
Christian T. Cooke	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Christian Cooke)
Glen Gauthier	....	sound mixer
Jamie Gould	....	re-recording assistant
Alastair Gray	....	dialogue editor
Wayne Griffin	....	supervising sound editor
Matthew Hussey	....	first assistant sound editor
Goro Koyama	....	foley artist
Andy Malcolm	....	foley artist
Anna Malkin	....	foley recording assistant
Matthew McKenzie	....	adr mixer
Colin McLellan	....	adr mixer
Chris Navarro	....	adr recordist
Michael O'Farrell	....	supervising sound editor
Moshe Saadon	....	boom operator
Orest Sushko	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Switzer	....	boom operator
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer
Clive Turner	....	sound effects editor
Don White	....	foley recording mixer
David Yonson	....	adr mixer
Mark Zsifkovits	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gren-Erich Zwicker	....	first assistant sound editor
Rob Bertola	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Dan Gibson	....	special effects set foreman (as Daniel Gibson)
Gary Kleinsteuber	....	special effects rigging foreman
Peter Sissakis	....	special effects technician
Neil Trifunovich	....	special effects supervisor
Jonathan Gording	....	special effects contact lenses (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Barb Benoit	....	digital compositor
Dennis Berardi	....	visual effects supervisor: Mr. X Inc.
Shawney Cohen	....	3D animator (as Sean Cohen)
Rob Del Ciancio	....	digital compositor
Bonnie Dickson	....	compositing assistant
Mike Diltz	....	tape operator
Michael Eaves	....	digital intermediate color timer: EFilm
David Fix	....	senior systems administrator: Mr. X Inc
Genevieve Forte	....	digital artist
Jason Giberson	....	film scanning and recording
Chris Jensen	....	digital colorist assist
Jef Lonn	....	digital compositor
Sarah McMurdo	....	visual effects production manager
Lauren Ritchie	....	executive in charge of visual effects
Chris Ross	....	digital effects scanning
David Singer	....	operations manager: Mr. X Inc.
Mark Stepanek	....	3D animator
Aaron Weintraub	....	visual effects supervisor
Fiona Campbell Westgate	....	visual effects producer: Mr. X Inc.
Thomas Mathai	....	data manager (uncredited)
Darcy Reno	....	senior systems administrator (uncredited)
Michael Stewart	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc. (uncredited)
Mark Tureski	....	scanning recording (uncredited)

Stunts
Chad Camilleri	....	stunts (as Chad Camelleri)
Christopher McGuire	....	stunts (as Chris McGuire)
Duncan McLeod	....	stunts
Robert C. Shannon	....	water safety coordinator
John Stoneham Jr.	....	fight coordinator
John Stoneham Jr.	....	stunt coordinator
Bryan Thomas	....	stunts
Dave Van Zeyl	....	stunts
John MacDonald	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bryan Thomas	....	stunt double (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Kevin Alanthwaite	....	electrician
Scotty Allan	....	chief lighting technician
Allan Angus	....	generator operator
Pierre Berube	....	best boy rigging electric
Zena Bielewicz	....	camera loader
Jonathan Billings	....	rigging grip (as Jon Billings)
Sam Bojin	....	best boy electric (as Samuel Bojin)
Russel Bowie	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Bernie Branston	....	electrician
Carlo Campana	....	grip
Tony Eldridge	....	electrician
Candide Franklyn	....	Steadicam operator
Candide Franklyn	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Robert Johnson	....	key grip
James Kohne	....	grip
Mark Lewandowski	....	video playback operator
Anthony Nocera	....	digital video assist operator
Marc Purdy	....	best boy grip
Takashi Seida	....	still photographer
Peter Suschitzky	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Frank Teunissen	....	best boy rigging grip
Jordon Toms	....	dolly grip (as Jordan Toms)
Marko Willis	....	grip
Jaclyn Young	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Mike Harwood	....	electrician (uncredited)
Ronald Schlueter	....	video assistant: splinter unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
Mark Bennett	....	casting: USA
Luisa Cabbidu	....	extras casting coordinator (as Luisa Cabiddu)
Zameret Kleiman	....	extras casting
Christopher Richards	....	casting assistant
Millie Tom	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ciara Brennan	....	set costumer
Matthew Campbell	....	costume truck supervisor
Patricia Cowmeadow	....	set costume supervisor (as Tisha Cowmeadow)
Natalie Bronfman	....	assistant costume designer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Michael Eaves	....	digital intermediate color timer (as Mike Eaves)
Bob Fernley	....	digital intermediate supervisor
Aaron Marshall	....	first assistant editor: film
Ricardo Olivero	....	lab color timer
Sandy Pereira	....	second assistant film editor (as Sandy M. Pereira)
Martha Pike	....	digital intermediate editor
Catherine Rankin	....	negative cutter
Emma Sanders	....	post-production coordinator
Tad Seaborn	....	first assistant editor: avid

Music Department
Paul Broucek	....	executive in charge of music: New Line
Peter Cobbin	....	score mixer
Elizabeth Cotnoir	....	music production manager
Jennifer L. Dunnington	....	music editor (as Jennifer Dunnington)
Karen Elliott	....	music supervisor
Vic Fraser	....	music preparation
Alan Frey	....	music production coordinator
Isobel Griffiths	....	music contractor
Robin Joseph	....	music clearances
John Kurlander	....	score recordist
Greg Laporta	....	electronic music programmer
Jonathan Schultz	....	score editor
Howard Shore	....	conductor
Howard Shore	....	orchestrator
Lori Silfen	....	music business affairs executive
Tim Stritmater	....	score technical engineer
Giancarlo Vulcano	....	music copyist
Mark Willsher	....	score editor
Paul Kegg	....	musician: cello (uncredited)
Jesse Pynigar	....	music preparation (uncredited)
Toby Wood	....	assistant scoring engineer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Ken Barbet	....	transportation captain
John Coles	....	driver
Wally Dibacco	....	driver (as Walter L. Dibacco)
Lorne Frederick	....	driver
Michael Gabourie	....	driver
Ray Gabourie	....	driver: Ed Harris & William Hurt
Ron Hines	....	driver
Glenn Hughes	....	picture vehicle captain
Michael K. Jones	....	driver: Maria Bello
Lenita Karhunen	....	transportation office administrator
Samarroo Llalchan	....	driver (as Lalchan Samaroo)
Hugh McCallum	....	driver: Viggo Mortensen
Stuart Mitchell	....	transportation captain
Don Morley	....	driver
Kevin Murphy	....	driver (as Kevin L. Murphy)
Frank Norris	....	driver
Thomas Osmond	....	driver
Bruce Raymer	....	driver
Dave Staples	....	transportation coordinator (as David Staples)
William L. Tataryn	....	driver
Maurice Tremblay	....	driver
Ian C. Harris	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Amanda Alden	....	assistant production coordinator
Lynell Bangs	....	production accountant
Cassandra Barbour	....	rights and clearances
Debra Beers	....	location manager
Jeff Behlendorf	....	post-production accountant
John 'Frenchie' Berger	....	gun wrangler (as Frenchie Berger)
Darren J. Biro	....	location production assistant
Jim Bruening	....	picture analysis
Rick Coffee	....	first assistant accountant: US
Chris Cozens	....	auricle operator
Fernando DaSilva	....	assistant location manager
Jon Davidson	....	production controller
William Dobson	....	set medic
Prudence Emery	....	unit publicist
Neal Flaherty	....	assistant: Mr. Bender
Robin Greavette	....	assistant location manager
Elspeth Haughton	....	production coordinator
Elaine Hughes	....	assistant craft service
Ryan Hupponen	....	production office assistant
Pino Insegno	....	voice dubbing: Viggo Mortensen
Ryan Keaveney	....	production office assistant
Alex Kontsalakis	....	payroll accountant
Andrew Matthews	....	executive in charge of film investment
Jason McLean	....	stand-in
Rafal Mickiewicz	....	stand-in
Louise Muskala	....	assistant: Mr. Greene
John Nelles	....	dialogue coach (as John E. Nelles)
Kyle O'Connor	....	location production assistant
Andre Paquin	....	second assistant accountant (as André Paquin)
Julie Paquin	....	first assistant accountant (as Julie C. Paquin)
Paul Prokop	....	executive in charge of finance
Joshua Ravetch	....	production resources
Jennifer Ricci	....	stand-in (as Jen Ricci)
Carolyn Rohaly	....	assistant: Mr. Cronenberg
Dug Rotstein	....	script supervisor
Laura Sevier	....	rights and clearances
Steve Sheridan	....	trainee assistant accountant
Eric Sherping	....	assistant craft service
Claire Smith	....	production secretary
Joe Steele	....	production resources
Warner Strauss	....	assistant location manager
Tim Stritmater	....	technical engineer
Dave Tommasini	....	helicopter pilot (as David Tommasini)
Debra Weyman	....	studio teacher
Stephanie Lee Berger	....	weapons handler (uncredited)
Rich Bokides	....	film runner (uncredited)
Tony Castillo	....	on-set caterer (uncredited)
Patricia Cowmeadow	....	set supervisor (uncredited)
Wendolyn Deal	....	assistant: William Hurt (uncredited)
Wendolyn Deal	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Leon Dudevoir	....	production executive (uncredited)
John Furniotis	....	title designer (uncredited)
Pamela Hackwell	....	contact lens technician (uncredited)
R. Emerson John	....	replacement script supervisor (uncredited)
Brad Ling	....	on-set caterer (uncredited)
John Rakich	....	production assistant: Millbrook (uncredited)
K.D. Smith	....	post-production accounting assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• New Line Productions
• BenderSpink
• Media I! Filmproduktion München & Company

Distributors

• New Line Cinema (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution (2005) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Artecinema (2005) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• FS Film Oy (2005) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Fox-Warner (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• PlayArte Filmes (2005) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2005) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2005) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2005) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• 01 Distribuzione (2005) (Italy) (all media)
• Argentina Video Home (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
• FS Film Oy (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Group Power (2006) (Taiwan) (all media)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• RTL Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing) (RTL5)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) (2008) (Germany) (TV)

Special Effects

• Mr. X (visual effects)
• Film Effects (opticals)

Other Companies

• Mi Casa Multimedia  DVD audio mix & mastering 5.1, 6.1
• Abbey Road Studios  score mixed at (as Abbey Road Studios, London)
• Air Lyndhurst Studios  score recorded at (as Air Lyndhurst Studios, London)
• Deluxe Post-Production  post-production facilities
• Deluxe Sound & Picture  adr recorded at
• Deluxe Sound & Picture  sound re-recording
• EFilm  digital intermediate
• Entertainment Clearances  rights and clearances
• Eventone Editorial  score pre-production (as Eventone Editorial, Tuxedo, New York)
• Film Effects  opticals
• Film Effects  titles
• Footsteps Post-Production Sound  foley recorded at
• Hand Prop  props supplied by
• Hothouse Music  music supervision
• Loop Troop  adr voice casting (as The Loop Troop - Canada)
• New Line Records  soundtrack released by
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Rex Post  additional adr recorded at
• Tattersall Sound  picture editing facilities
• Toronto Film Studios  movie studio
• William F. White International  grip and electric equipment
• Wilshire Stages, The  adr recorded at

Also Known As:

A History of Violence (Germany)
A History of Violence (Italy) [it]
A History of Violence (France) [fr]
Historia przemocy (Poland) [pl]
Historia shel Alimoot (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]
Marcas da Violência (Brazil) [pt]
Povijest nasilja (Croatia) [hr]
Siddetin tarihçesi (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
To telos tis vias (Greece) [el]
Una historia de violencia (Spain) [es]
Una historia violenta (Argentina) [es]
Une histoire de violence (Canada: French title) [fr]

MPAA:

Rated R for strong brutal violence, graphic sexuality, nudity, language and some drug use.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Finland:K-15 | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Philippines:R-13 (cut) | Australia:MA | Singapore:R21 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:16 | France:-12 | Spain:18 | South Korea:18 | Hong Kong:III | Japan:R-15 | Indonesia:Dewasa | Czech Republic:15 | Mexico:C | Brazil:18 | Sweden:15 | Australia:R (original rating) | New Zealand:R18 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Portugal:M/16 | Iceland:16 | Germany:18 (bw) | Italy:T (re-rated) | Italy:VM14 (original rating) | USA:R (certificate #41604) | Israel:16 | UK:18 | Ireland:18 | Norway:18

Filming Locations:

King City, Ontario, Canada

Company:

New Line Productions

Trivia:

The mobsters were originally supposed to be Italian, but after the casting of Ed Harris and William Hurt, David Cronenberg decided to change the mob to Irish. He felt Harris and Hurt wouldn't make convincing Italians.

Goofs:

Continuity: The bathroom door alternates between open and closed after Edie emerges in her cheerleader outfit.

Quotes:

[first lines]
William Orser: So we keep headin' east?
Leland Jones: Yeah, that's the idea.
William Orser: Stay out of the big cities?
Leland Jones: Uh-huh.

Movie Connections:

References Dirty Harry (1971)

Soundtrack:

Life of a Fool

In the Blood

In the middle of the night young Sarah (Heidi Hayes) wakes from a nightmare. Her father, Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) comforts her saying, "There are no such thing as monsters…" Director David Cronenberg's "A History of Violence" questions whether human monsters are truly born or trained to be so. Based on a graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke, Josh Olson's screenplay offers a provocative answer. Though for Cronenberg and Olson , the power of "A History of Violence" lies in its character study. Viggo Mortensen as Tom Stall is commanding and powerful as the center of this character piece. This is one the year's best movies.

Cronenberg creates the idyllic setting of a small Indiana town. Tom Stall (Mortensen) is a mild mannered and community respected family man. He has a loving and beautiful wife Edie (strong and smart Maria Bello). His daughter Sarah likes shopping for shoes. His teenage son Jack (Ashton Holmes) is sucking as a baseball player and a target of bully Bobby (Kyle Schmid). Tom owns Stall's Dinner in town. Then one day ruthless killers (evil Stephen McHattie and Greg Bryk) draw their guns in a robbery attempt at Tom's diner. Tom kills both like they are not even there. He dispatches them with awesome deadly force and brutality. His actions are warranted, and seemingly instinctive. Tom becomes a town and national hero. His photo even appears on CNN.

Soon after returning to work a mysterious man and his henchmen visit Tom in his diner. The man, Carl Fogerty (menacing Ed Harris), reveals a disfiguring injury and claims to know Tom, as Joey Cusack. Tom really does not seem to know Carl, and kindly asks him to leave. Things don't seem to add up regarding Tom. Carl later asks Tom's wife Edie "Why is he (Tom) so good at killing people." Cronenberg brilliantly lulls us in a sense of normalcy, then launches in a predetermined direction and tone. He hints at his answer with son Jack's explosive actions. Also his "A History of Violence" is a study of extremes, likely intentional. The violence is graphic controlled brutality, and merciless. The sex scene with Tom and Edie on the stairs is raw and erotic. Cronenberg also manages an unexpected resolution.

Viggo Mortensen is electrifying. He uses his classic good looks and understated charm to play the gentle family man Tom Stall. Mortensen also displays a powerful and explosive presence as Tom's darker persona. Mortensen is athletic and expertly performs the amazing martial arts and fight scenes. Maria Bello is awesome as Edie. Even with her glamor subdued she is stunning and sexy. Her Edie is strong willed enduring her own doubts regarding who her husband really is. Her reaction at the story's arc is both believable and heartbreaking. She and Mortensen have amazing chemistry. Ed Harris is calculated evil as Carl Fogerty. Newcomer Ashton Holmes is impressive as young Jack. His portrayal leads us to believe it maybe truly in the blood. William Hurt's turn in a pivotal role is unexpectedly shocking and completely effective.

Cronenberg has fashioned a fable about character and fate in "A History of Violence". This is one of the best movies of the year. Viggo Mortensen is simply powerful. "A History of Violence" is worth seeing and worthy of thought.