In a Violent Nature will release to theaters on May 31, 2024.
Horror is my favorite genre of film, and slasher is my favorite sub-genre of horror. I’m always on the look out for a new entry. It’s a genre that’s clichéd by nature, leaning into the familiarity and tropes that have been established and followed for decades. So, when I heard about a new slasher film out of Sundance that followed the perspective of the killer, I was all in.
In a Violent Nature Plot
A large malevolent being known as Johnny rises from the grave and begins to stalk and brutally murder anybody he stumbles upon.
The Critique
It’s difficult to break new ground within the slasher-genre. Jason Voorhees is arguably the top-dog in that realm, beating and mutilating promiscuous teenagers throughout the 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s. The quality of those films range wildly, but love them or hate them, there is no denying Jason’s iconic status. In a Violent Nature leans heavily on the Friday the 13th franchise, using its distinctive style and structure to deliver the simplistic story from a new point of view.
Fans of this type of film are in it for the gore and creative kills, and luckily In a Violent Nature delivers plenty of both. One aspect that some fans may not be excited about is the film’s pacing. This is going to be the dividing point among audiences. In a typical slasher we follow unsuspecting victims as they drink, have sex and party. There is a story element — thin as that story may be — that fills the time in-between spurts of brutality. Where the killer goes before or after a murder is seldomly explored, and that’s the side of the story that writer/director Chris Nash sets out to tell.
The 2009 Friday the 13th reboot touched on this briefly, by revealing that Jason had a series of underground tunnels allowing him to travel vast distances in short periods of time. With Johnny, the camera follows, nearly always lingering behind him as he calmly meanders from one location to the next. His steps are rhythmic and the only sounds to be heard are his footsteps crunching on the fallen leaves. He enters scenes and encounters people as they carry on discussions. These discussions give the minimal amount of backstory necessary for audiences to be in the loop on what’s going on.
In a Violent Nature is very much an experimental take on horror. There are enough small moments featuring the tropes of a traditional slasher that it’s easy to imagine what the film would have looked like from the perspective of the human characters, and some viewers may long for that film instead of the one we get. The long, unwavering takes of a killer sauntering through the woods add an eerie insight into the seeming mindlessness of the these monsters.
In Conclusion
In a Violent Nature is going to be divisive; however, fans with an open mind looking for a fresh take on the tired genre will be pleasantly surprised. One kill in particular stands out as one of the most creative on-screen murders I’ve seen in years. It’s a gory, inventive and endlessly creative entry in the genre. Will it become the next huge franchise? There’s no telling; however, I absolutely want a sequel.
8/10
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