Posted by Jonathan Klotz | Updated
If you are of a certain age, you have lived through many generations of entertainment media. Given the current state of physical media, people have finally had enough and are refusing to let go of Blu-Rays. Before Blu-Rays, before DVD, there was VHS. It changed movies when it arrived, but left with a whimper. VHS lasted longer than you'd think, as the last movie on VHS was released in 2005 which was less well-received and less well-received, A History of Violence. 21 years later, and the film has been tearing up the HBO Max charts ever since it arrived.
A History of Violence Has a History of Success
March 14, 2006, that day A History of Violence released on VHS. Almost a year after its May 2005 debut in theaters. A slow burn for a thriller about a man trying to escape his past, and the damage it wreaks on his family, is unlikely at the start of the summer blockbuster season, but Warner Bros (via New Line Media) had faith in the film. $61 million at the box office later, and that faith was rewarded.
A History of Violence adapts the Vertigo DC graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke, making it the most unpopular DC film. Viggio Mortenson, fresh off Lord of the Rings, plays Tom Stack, a mild-mannered diner owner whose life is turned upside down when two men from Philly walk into his restaurant. Maria Bello is his loving wife, Edie, and together, they have two children, Jack and Sarah. Good life. Until it isn't.
The Best Dad Movie of All Time
Unlike the later films in the “suburban become kind of bad” secret, A History of Violence does not glorify violence. The action is short, brutal, and bloody, with real injuries occurring after someone is shot … or stabbed. It's a smart, thoughtful take on the action genre that's been lost in the noise of No one 2Liam Neeson, and countless other actors.
The thought and intent behind every shot is clear when you realize that the director is David Cronenberg. The Master of Body Horror and Viggo Mortenson would go on to work together four more times, including in 2007. Eastern Promisesa very violent and extreme film.
The End of an Era
A History of Violence on VHS is now a collector's item, with sealed copies fetching over $500 on eBay. Other films, incl Carsthey were released after, but as a special part, the promotions released were limited, and not extensive, to throw off the Wal-Mart scale of the Cronenberg hit. As for why it was the last film, it comes down to time. Distribution deals were inked years ago when VHS was apparently on the way, but still in many homes, before DVD players became mainstream. Sometimes, it's really easy.
Since its debut, reboot, on HBO Max, A History of Violence has been in the top 10, reaching, as of the time of this writing, the top five. It's well-deserved one of the best movies of the 2000s and a career highlight for everyone involved. If you're lonely because the schlub's dad turns out to be the killer type, you need to watch this movie and fall in love with this type all over again.
