by Cookie N Screen
If you ask me, and I realise you weren’t, David Cronenberg is the best director of all time. Don’t deny me this. He can not only subvert your nightmares into living creatures cavorting on the screen, but he can pin point the exact unnerving nature of humanities psyche. Coming both thematic horrors as well as monstrous one, Cronenberg has proved repeatedly that he can truly master freights in every format. Today marks the release of the highly anticipated Maps to the Stars, which sees a dark satirical look at Hollywood and sees Cronenberg focus on the emotional aspect of humanity rather than his elaborate creatures. With that in mind, let’s have a look back at one of his best works; A History of Violence.
If you ask me, and I realise you weren’t, David Cronenberg is the best director of all time. Don’t deny me this. He can not only subvert your nightmares into living creatures cavorting on the screen, but he can pin point the exact unnerving nature of humanities psyche. Coming both thematic horrors as well as monstrous one, Cronenberg has proved repeatedly that he can truly master freights in every format. Today marks the release of the highly anticipated Maps to the Stars, which sees a dark satirical look at Hollywood and sees Cronenberg focus on the emotional aspect of humanity rather than his elaborate creatures. With that in mind, let’s have a look back at one of his best works; A History of Violence.
Proving that the iconic Cronenberg flare can be adapted to any genre, his attentiveness and human excavation tactics are paramount in this stunning crime drama. Starring Viggo Mortenson, A History of Violence centres on Tom Stall. Stall is the owner of a small diner and is living a simple life with his family. When two robbers enter his premises, he is thrust into the limelight after brutally killing them. Not only must he confront the act he has just committed, but he must face his past when a gang leader comes stalking him and his loved ones. Is there more to Tom than we first thought?
This is an archaic trip into the word of a violent soul that embarks on the theme of past colliding with present. Astutely, Cronenberg twists the inner workings of Tom and adds a calm rage and conflict in our leading man. What starts off as the blue collar hero, dwindles into this struggle for his identity, where his past bleeds into his present – a present he has tried so hard to maintain clean. Using these intense shots and not shying away from the extremity of guns and punches, Cronenberg gouges out the soul and lays it bare making A History Of Violence one of the most evocative films of all time.
This is an archaic trip into the word of a violent soul that embarks on the theme of past colliding with present. Astutely, Cronenberg twists the inner workings of Tom and adds a calm rage and conflict in our leading man. What starts off as the blue collar hero, dwindles into this struggle for his identity, where his past bleeds into his present – a present he has tried so hard to maintain clean. Using these intense shots and not shying away from the extremity of guns and punches, Cronenberg gouges out the soul and lays it bare making A History Of Violence one of the most evocative films of all time.
It helps that within Cronenberg’s wildly powerful movie, he has given the weight of the story to a strong actor, departing from his most famous role. Viggo Mortenson is intense as Tom and his skill really pull the story forward. Able to boil the secrets underneath the stoic Tom, who is biting back against his unravelling façade. Mortenson, with great talent and multi-facially, swiftly exerts emotion while sticking to his lie for the sake of his family and it is an enthralling performances. Of course, it is helped along by his distraught loved ones, trying to deal with the series of events that follow including a delicately harrowed Maria Bello as Edie Stall, his wife.
With one of the best and dominating sex scenes in the history of cinema that evokes tension and passion all spindled with distress, A History of Violence is the most pivotal of Cronenberg’s films. The twist of themes, the intensity of the performance and the ever disturbing core of mortality make it must see viewing. If you cannot find Maps to the Stars in your cinema yet, revisit is other daring film.
With one of the best and dominating sex scenes in the history of cinema that evokes tension and passion all spindled with distress, A History of Violence is the most pivotal of Cronenberg’s films. The twist of themes, the intensity of the performance and the ever disturbing core of mortality make it must see viewing. If you cannot find Maps to the Stars in your cinema yet, revisit is other daring film.