As part of the series Ten Days of Comic Book Movies.
#3: A History of Violence (2005)
Trade Paperback Tickets: A rare case of the movie being better than the book. Considering that this is a David Cronenberg film, it’s hard to believe that the violence and straight-up torture porn of the comic didn’t make it into the movie. No, instead Cronenberg took a story that was interesting and made it thrilling. The touches of family and minimalist (accepted) violence between father and son and son and community touch on the theme of perpetuating hate and the idea that the past can’t be forgotten even if it can be cut off. Every character who is in the film version of this story has been given more sketch lines and a more important and better understood role. The book addresses plenty of mob violence and has truly horrific shock scenes that don’t resonate nearly as well as the understated film elements simply because the characters never mattered as much.
What I truly like about this movie version:
- I like to be able to call it the one comic book movie I know for sure is better than the original book material.
- Your wife is hot. You do not need twenty-year old women to satisfy you if you have a woman who truly loves you, understands you, and is willing to engage in a strong, healthy relationship with you. Wait. Did nobody else take away this message? I only mention it because it was nice to see Maria Bello playing that role. Too many comic book movies (and movies in general) ignore the fact that middle-age women can be attractive, dynamic partners and that husbands may still prefer them to nubile adolescents. This movie did not.
- As creepy as Cronenberg loves to make things, he didn’t take History of Violence and turn it into a gore fest, despite the fact that the source material offered up plenty of those scenes on a silver (but blood-splattered) platter. He offered real images, real motivation, and even real torment. (Emotionally and physically.)
- Viggo Mortensen was a really good choice for this movie. And William Hurt as his brother. Believable, understandable, sympathetic but still scary in all the right ways.
- Audiences would probably never have known this was a comic book if there hadn’t been a marketing push in bookstores after the film’s release. I mention that because it’s nice to reinforce the idea that comic book movies != superhero movies.
What I think may not be so good:
- Some of the earlier hints at a different past were set up without as much understanding as may have been needed for the audience. By this, I mean only that the violence and strategic hunting down seemed to come on a little strong and felt a little forced. Fortunately, I suppose, this was better fleshed out as the story went on.
- Now what? I hate when I feel like a story forces me to ask “now what?” since I’m a student of the modern story, wherein the ending may not have a real resolution even if it has a conclusion. Nonetheless I found myself wondering that in the case of this movie.
Endorsements & Prohibitions:
A solid 8.5 out of 10. I’d actually rank A History of Violence among the top ten best comic book movies of all time (along with yesterday’s choice of Scott Pilgrim and several others) as well as my top ten favorite comic book movies of all time. You know, if you want good movies.
Dumpster Jedi 