Cronenberg is still in top form after his character study/downfall of SPIDER, also the title of his last film.  A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE is less a character study but a story of the pains a human being has to go through in order to effect a genuine change in his life for the better.  Tom Stall’s (Viggo Mortensen) life takes a different course when he becomes the local small town hero after thwarting a robbery in the diner that he runs.  Being then on the national news, he is visited by a sinister Carl Fogarty (Ed Harris) who believes him to be someone else who had wronged him in the past.  Carl demands revenge at all costs.  Cronenberg knows how to play scenes and how to manipulate the viewers’ emotions. The robbery and fight scenes are executed with skilled precision – reminiscent of Don Siegel’s films.  Aided by powerful performances, particularly by Viggo Mortensen (in his best role) and Ashton Holmes (as the son, Jack), Cronenberg’s film comes close to perfect in achieving all its goals.