A History of Violence (2005) — Screenplay
A mild-mannered diner owner's life unravels when a violent act of self-defense exposes his hidden past and threatens his family.
- Written by
- John Wagner, Vince Locke, Josh Olson
- Genre
- Drama, Action, Crime
- Studio
- New Line Cinema
- Length
- 107 pages
This script is a masterclass in tonal control, shifting seamlessly from small-town domestic drama to visceral, shocking violence. Study how the tight, economical dialogue and deliberate pacing build suspense while revealing character through action. The escalating stakes and ambiguous morality make it a compelling case study in subverting genre expectations.
Read the full A History of Violence (2005) screenplay in PDF, page by page, right here on Laper — or download the original script to study John Wagner, Vince Locke, Josh Olson’s scene work, dialogue and structure at your own pace. A free resource for screenwriters and film students learning Hollywood script format.