A History of Violence starts out very well. The beginning is really the best part. Motel, hot morning, two creepy guys hitting the road. What are they up to? Who are they going to butcher next?

Then there's a boring bit where the hero's bona fides as a regular, lovable family bore is established over and over again.

"How lovable and ordinary!"

"I'll say! Can I have another slice o' pie? Mmm mmm!"

Then Ed Harris livens things up. Does he look menacing!

Then the Cronenberg effect sets in and has its way with the movie, so we don't care too much about what's happening. Various admirable fights take place.

I think the problem is the main character, played by Viggo Mortensen. The role as written is too flimsy for the intriguing story it has to carry. You could almost have a better movie if Ed Harris were to turn up at a diner and accuse the owner of really being Viggo Mortensen disguised as an average guy.