A History Of Violence

A history of violence is an adaptation of the graphic novel of the same name. I can't speak for how faithful an adaptation it is as I haven't read the original comic, but what I can tell you is that the film is excellent.

Viggo Mortinsen is brilliant in it, the film displays his range as an actor, when we are first introduced to his character Tom Stall, he is shown to be your average ordinary family man, he is meek and unassuming, there is nothing that stands out about him, not at first, you get the impression that he is man with small town values who has lived a life free of adversity, but soon we discover that Tom Stall has a history of violence.

There is a switch that happens in his character midway through the film, and Mortinsen's performance is what sells it, we as the audience feel as if we are looking at an entirely different character. We have the same experience as Tom Stall's family when the rug is pulled from under us halfway into the movie. It is a brilliant performance and an excellent film.