David Cronenberg’s Eastern Promises (2007) is a chilling, visceral thriller starring Viggo Mortensen as Nikolai, a stoic driver entangled in London’s Russian mafia. When midwife Anna (Naomi Watts) uncovers a dead girl’s diary, the two collide in a web of violence and secrets. Mortensen’s raw, Oscar-nominated turn—especially that iconic bathhouse brawl—steals the show, while Cronenberg’s unflinching style amplifies the tension.

The film’s moody atmosphere and brutal realism paint a stark portrait of loyalty and betrayal, with Armin Mueller-Stahl’s chilling patriarch adding depth. It’s not an easy watch—graphic and slow-burning—but the payoff is gripping. Released on September 14, 2007, it’s aged into a modern classic.

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