Tom Stall had the perfect life … until he became a hero.|Sep. 23, 2005|Canada | United States|96 Min.|R
Genre: Crime;Drama;Thriller
Description: “A History of Violence,” released in 2005, tells the story of Tom Stall, a diner owner living peacefully in the small town of Millbrook, Indiana, with his wife Edie, teenage son Jack, and daughter Sarah. One evening, two violent robbers attempt to hold up the diner, threatening a waitress. Tom intervenes with remarkable skill, killing both robbers and becoming a local hero. However, his newfound fame attracts the attention of Carl Fogarty, a scarred gangster who claims Tom is actually Joey Cusack, a professional hitman with ties to the Irish Mob in Philadelphia. Tom denies the accusations, but Carl begins to stalk the Stall family, creating tension in their quiet lives.
As the pressure mounts, Tom’s relationships with his family deteriorate. After an argument with his father about dealing with a school bully, Jack runs away and is captured by Carl. Using Jack as leverage, Carl demands that Tom return to Philadelphia with him. In a tense confrontation at the Stall home, Tom (now revealed as Joey) kills Carl’s men and is shot by Carl. Just as Carl prepares to finish him off, Jack intervenes and kills Carl with a shotgun.
At the hospital, Edie confronts Tom, having witnessed his violent side during the confrontation. Tom admits the truth: he is Joey Cusack, a former hitman who fled Philadelphia to escape his criminal past. The revelation deepens the strain on their marriage, leaving their future uncertain. “A History of Violence” explores themes of identity, redemption, and the consequences of a hidden past.
Cast director: David Cronenberg
Cast actor: Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, Heidi Hayes, Ashton Holmes, William Hurt, Ed Harris, Peter MacNeill, Stephen McHattie, Greg Bryk, Kyle Schmid
Original name: A History of Violence