LORD of the Rings star Viggo Mortensen swaps Middle Earth for Midwest America in this David Cronenberg thriller.

As Tom Stall he is living the American dream - a diner owner in his kitsch hometown, with a loving wife Edie (Maria Bello) and two children.

Life couldn't be more perfect...cue the arrival to Stalls' Diner of two travelling crooks with the sole aim of making a quick buck, regardless of who they kill.

When Tom demonstrates his sharp shooting skills and disposes of the ruthless criminals, he is hailed a hero and is catapulted into the spotlight.

But the incident also attracts the unwanted attention of east coast mobster Carl Foggarty (Ed Harris) who turns up at the diner claiming that Tom is in fact "Joey Cusack from Philly" and harbours a murderous past.

Surely it's just a case of mistaken identity? But then why would a shy, retiring diner owner be so proficient with a gun?

A well-crafted, pacey thriller, A History of Violence is wonderfully tense and unpredictable.

There are some excellent performances too, particularly from Harris, who brandishing a scared face and damaged eye, is everything you want a bad guy to be.

You'll need a strong stomach to see this film but if you can hack the gore it's certainly worth a watch.

EB