The movie is directed by David Cronenberg and stars Viggo Mortensen as Tom Stall, the owner of a diner in a small town. One night, two robbers attempt to rob the diner but Tom manages to kill them both in self-defense. His actions make him a hero in the town and attract media attention.
However, Tom's peaceful life is shattered when a group of mobsters come to town and claim that Tom is actually a former member of their organization named Joey Cusack. They threaten Tom and his family unless he returns to their world and helps them with a job. Tom denies any knowledge of this and tries to keep his family safe from the violent criminals.
As the story unfolds, Tom's wife Edie (Maria Bello) begins to doubt his past and their relationship is strained. Their son Jack (Ashton Holmes) also becomes aware of the threat to their family and struggles with his own violent tendencies. Meanwhile, the leader of the mobsters, Carl Fogarty (Ed Harris), becomes obsessed with Tom and refuses to believe his denials.
The movie explores themes of identity, violence, and the consequences of our actions. It received critical acclaim for its performances, direction, and screenplay, and was nominated for several awards including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for William Hurt's performance as Tom's mysterious brother.