Actor Viggo Mortensen, best known as Aragorn in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, has made a drastic departure from his heroic role to that of an expert killer in "A History of Violence."
As natural as Mortensen was as the King of Middle Earth, he's also the ideal choice for a cold-blooded killer in small-town America.
The first scene in "A History of Violence" shows two men slaughtering an entire motel staff, an appropriate omen for scenes to come. The same men reappear in a diner owned by Tom Stall (Mortensen) and demand coffee and pie. A brawl ensues and Tom ends up killing both men with frightening skill while a knife pins his foot to the floor.
The publicity that follows the small-town murders drags up ghosts from Stall's secret past. An intimidating mobster named Carl Fogarty (Ed Harris) confronts Tom. Fogarty and his two goons get hold of Tom's son, Jack, played by Ashton Holmes ("Raising Hell"). They use him as a bargaining chip to coerce Tom to come back to Philadelphia with them.
Ed Harris does well playing the heinously disfigured but almost-lovable Carl Fogarty. He's always a gentleman, even when he's killing. The makeup artists did a great job with designing his scars and his missing eyeball, which Joey tried to remove with barbed wire.
At first, Tom clings to the mistaken identity line, but it becomes clear that Carl is right. Tom says he'll comply in an effort to free his son, but when the mobsters release Jack, Tom snaps. The thugs get roundhouse kicks and serious headshots while Carl is lucky enough to be finished off with a shotgun blast through the stomach.
After things have settled, Tom gets a phone call from his brother Richie, played by William Hurt ("The Village"), who has ties to people in organized crime. Family bonds melt as Richie complains of the problems that Tom has caused for him and the business. Richie sees the only solution as killing his brother, but Tom doesn't take this lightly and another bloodbath ensues.
Director David Cronenberg ("eXistenZ") does wonders with this film. There aren't any CGI effects to hide behind and the plot is potent enough to stand on its own. The cinematography is clear and concise and quick cuts and slick camerawork give shots an authentic feel.
Violence plays a huge part in this movie, sometimes to the point of excess. Graphic scenes with brain matter and inner organs flying around may seem like a bit much, but the theme of violence and the extent to which the concept is explored makes for a very effective movie.
Mortensen does a superb job in portraying one man with another persona trapped inside of him. The movie doesn't feature as much inner conflict as there could have been, but another lackluster psychological thriller would have subtracted from this hardcore, violent romp.
This isn't a movie for the faint of heart or those who are grossed out by the sight of blood and brain tissue. It's violent, gruesome and unapologetic, and more stimulating than the average slasher movie.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
