FAQ for
A History of Violence (2005) More at IMDbPro »

The following FAQ entries may contain spoilers. Only the biggest ones (if any) will be covered with spoiler tags. Spoiler tags have been used sparingly in order to make the page more readable.

Yes, the movie is based on a graphic novel of the same name, written by John Wagner with the art drawn by Vince Locke. The movie does take a significantly different track regarding the climax, ending, and several characters.

A History of Violence (2005) in 2006. Source: "VHS era is winding down," Los Angeles Times, December 22, 2008.

No, when talking to Edie she asks him if he's a schizo or something like that, he says he went out in the desert and killed Joey Cusack. But he was referring to faking his own death and assuming the identity of Tom Stall in the hopes of escaping his past.

Bobby is a coward at heart. He backs down when Jack beats him at his own name-calling game in the locker room following the baseball game. He backs down even more quickly when faced with a clearly stronger opponent (Leland and Orser) after cutting them off on the road. Once Jack finally does start to fight, Bobby folds quickly and cannot mount any resistance. Afterward, Tom is angry because Bobby's parents are making a scene about seeking both civil and criminal litigation against Jack. Bobby bullies Jack to assuage his own insecurities because he's convinced Jack won't fight back. Once Jack does, he is the sniveling little victim.

Not at all. Richie makes it very clear from the start that he is summoning his brother home to settle the score between them, and that he wants Joey dead as much as Fogarty did. By giving Tom/Joey a choice to either come to Philadelphia or else have Richie come out to his home, Richie was offering to spare, not Joey, but Edie and the kids. Richie knew that Tom's wife and children knew nothing about him and he could afford to let them live if Tom came to see him. If Richie had to go out to Tom's house, Edie, Jack and Sarah would be eliminated as witnesses and collateral damage. Tom/Joey clung to a thread of hope to avoid a direct showdown, but Richie shows that this is not an option. Richie's question, 'Are you gonna come see me, or do I have to come see you?' sets the stage for the inevitable confrontation between Joey and his older brother.

This is because Edie was frightened, angry and confused with Tom/Joey and the whole situation. She hates the fact that he lied to her about who he really was. However, she still loves him for the person he had become since he met her. The beginning of the film, especially the first sex scene, shows they are clearly still in love and still very attracted to each other. So while she is frightened and confused, she still lusts for Tom. Also, violence can turn some people on.