Written and directed by Chris Nash (ABCs of Death 2 2014), In a Violent Nature has garnered particular attention for being a Slasher with a difference. Exclusively in theaters May 31, 2024 through IFC Films. With In a Violent Nature the action is told, not from the point of view of the unwitting protagonists in danger of being slaughtered, but from the perspective of the killer about to do the slaughtering.
Set in the wilds of Ontario, In a Violent Nature follows Johnny (Ry Barrett: Antisocial 2013, Lifechanger 2018). Mute and highly disfigured, Johnny has only one thing left to remember his mother by and that is one of her necklaces. When that necklace is found by a group of teenagers, one of them decides to take it and well – Johnny is really not very happy about that. Soon Johnny is stalking the group through the woods and killing anyone he comes across.
As mentioned above, In a Violent Nature has piqued interest from Slasher fans for being told from the killer’s perspective. However, it is important to point out that this is certainly not the first film to do so, and this tactic has been employed before in several other films such as 2012’s remade Maniac, 2014’s The Voices, but also 1986’s Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, to name just a few. The difference here then is probably more in reference to the style of In a Violent Nature which feels more like a video game where the audience is controlling the avatar of Johnny. One further caveat is that whilst the action is predominantly told from Johnny’s point of view – it is not always, and it does switch to other perspectives a couple of times. With all that in mind, whilst In a Violent Nature does not get lost in the slasher sub-genre as a film totally similar to countless other films nor is it as innovative as it claims to be.
Much of In a Violent Nature is slow burn as the audience follows Johnny traipsing through the woods. He does a lot of walking and there is a lot of waiting. This may alienate some audiences as it takes a while for the carnage to start. However, the flip side of this is that when the carnage starts – it is brutal. In fact, the kills in this film are extremely gory and extremely mean. Some of this film’s marketing suggested that audiences might need a sick bag to hand whilst watching and that is not too much of an exaggeration.
In a Violent Nature does feel like a film that is going to be divisive. Some will see it as a subversion, a satire and an homage to the Slasher genre. They will love the brutality of it and the gory, bloody kills. But others will see it as simply another entry in the slasher genre and will perhaps even find the kills veer into torture porn territory. Nash has created a Horror that will get audiences talking, but whether In a Violent Nature will stand the test of time and become a pillar of the genre, remains to be seen. That is why Cryptic Rock gives this movie 3 out of 5 stars.
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