Curiously straight and mainstream in the Cronenbergian scheme of things, A History of Violence nevertheless shows that Canadian auteur still hasn’t lost the unwavering intelligence and surgical focus he has invested in all his work. Absent are his body-horror signatures and clinical tone; this is perhaps his most emotionally direct film since The Fly. Based on the graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke, the film derives its horror from witnessing the ricocheting effects of violence destroying a peaceful, unperturbed lifestyle. A lesser director would’ve turned in a conventional crime thriller, but Cronenberg’s psychological acumen, taut, economical construction, and eschewing of ribbon-fastened conclusions make the film more thoughtful than your average genre fare. Viggo Mortensen is a flawless fit for the dark, rugged anti-hero, wrestling with his true identity and need to maintain the trust of his family, though William Hurt’s oddball, over-the-top gangster is a bit of a false note, underserving of an Oscar nod.