A History of Violence
Tom Stall had the perfect life...until he became a hero.
Directed by David Cronenberg
Produced by New Line Cinema, BenderSpink
A tense, morally ambiguous thriller about a man whose violent past threatens to destroy the ordinary life and family he's built, exploring the impossibility of escaping one's identity.
An average family is thrust into the spotlight after the father commits a seemingly self-defense murder at his diner.
Clusters
Where to watch
Questions people ask
Is A History of Violence violent? Yes, very. More violent than 95% of films.
Is A History of Violence scary? Yes, very. More frightening than 94% of films.
Is A History of Violence sad? Yes. More sad than 82% of films.
Does A History of Violence end with hope? Barely. Less hopeful than 80% of films.
Is A History of Violence easy watching? Not especially. Less comforting than 61% of films.
These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.
Written about
Cinnamon Score
How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.
Familiar shape, done well.
How unlike any other film this one feels
How much more it delivers than it promises
How much audiences actually like it
Ensemble
Everything like A History of Violence, and what each one shares →
Like A History of Violence
Nearest across the full emotional profile.
Same Mood as A History of Violence
Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.
Like A History of Violence, But Darker
Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.
Like A History of Violence, But Lighter
Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.
Like A History of Violence, But Less Popular
Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.
