A History of Violence

Tom Stall played by Viggo Mortensen is a small restaurant owner living in the small city of Millbrook, Indiana with his loving woman Edie played by Maria Bello and their two children. One night, two thieves enter the restaurant and attempt to steal everything from there. But Tom surprisingly acted out of instinct and killed the robbers.

The incident makes Tom a local hero, but it also attracts the attention of Carl Fogarty played by Ed Harris, a gangster from Philadelphia. Fogarty alleges that Tom is actually a missing professional hitman named Joey Cusack. Tom originally denies all the claims made by him, but Fogarty is convinced and begins to persuade him to return to his former life.

Tom's family is completely shocked and confused by these allegations. Edie panics thinking about the violent past that her husband could have and Jack, their teenage son begins to question everything that he knew about his father.Tom desperately tries to cover his family from his history, but Fogarty won't stop until he gets what he wants. He sends two of his men to Millbrook to show dominance over Tom, but Tom kills them both in self defense.

The violence escalates, and Tom is forced to defy about his history. He admits to Edie that he's Joey Cusack, and he explains why he left his old life before. He also tells her that he's determined to protect her and the children from the people who are after him.

Fogarty ultimately arrives in Millbrook with a group of men and he and Tom have a final showdown. Tom is suitable to master Fogarty and his men, but he's himself seriously injured. In the end, Tom and Edie are reunited, and Tom is eventually able to start a new life with his family.