In a Violent Nature (2024) Deconstructs the Slasher Without Skimping on the Gore

Title: In a Violent Nature

First Non-Festival Release: May 31, 2024 (Limited Theatrical Release)

Director: Chris Nash

Writer: Chris Nash

Runtime: 94 Minutes

Starring: Ry Barrett, Andrea Pavlovic, Cameron Love

Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here

Slashers have had a ubiquitous influence on the horror genre, with many iconic pop culture moments strewn between the decades of releases. While many attempt to out-do one another with various gimmicks or spins on the setup, few venture into the point of view of the killer beyond the lead up to a scare.

2024 fills the void with In a Violent Nature. Decades ago, young Johnny (Ry Barrett) was killed in a cruel prank gone wrong and is resurrected by a group of teenagers after they visit his gravesite and unintentionally awaken him by taking his mother’s locket. Now on a quest to retrieve his last precious possession Johnny hacks through various locals and tourists without mercy. The audience follows along as they are forced to witness the slaughter from his perspective.

A unique take on the classic slasher film, In a Violent Nature succeeds in subverting beloved sub-genre tropes.

From the beginning, In a Violent Nature plays with its creative approach to storytelling by re-creating the traditional three act structure that many come to expect from a slasher. Aside from a few choice moments where the audience intersects with the hapless vacationers and locals, In a Violent Nature explains Johnny’s twisted history through breadcrumbs. For every piece shared through campfire tale info dump there are three times as many off-handed remarks that further the lore without imposing too much on the already meandering approach to slashing.

The greatest strength behind In a Violent Nature lies in its ability to unsettle viewers by placing them in the uncomfortable position of bystander throughout Johnny’s reign of terror. Johnny’s methodical, unflinching approach to violence gives way to mundanity. These people that he’s ripping apart mean nothing to him, and his actions prove that. Even in his quest to retrieve his mother’s locket, it’s almost as if his revenge is strictly business, which is almost scarier. The lack of emotion and haste amplifies the terror for audiences used to the more cinematic beats in the subgenre. By showing the in-between moments, In a Violent Nature connects an important pov that is often removed for mystery and shock. It accomplishes this while still honoring the need to escalate tension in the buildup to its scares.

Its artful approach to the classic campground murder setup leads to greater conversations on the banality of evil and the emptiness of revenge. Scenic natural beauty and the tranquility of its life is interrupted by Johnny’s unquenchable thirst for carnage. Birds chirp as young people are dragged underwater and delinquent locals scream in bear traps. Unmatched sound design strengthens this horror, as every crunch and stomp is broadcast to an empty forest. The creeping cinematography forces the audience to grapple with the violence unfolding as the camera lingers long after the final pulse of Johnny’s victims. It’s deliberate and methodical, plenty opposite of its central killer’s modus operandi.

While it makes for many interesting moments, the novelty wanes as the pacing issues of In a Violent Nature really show in its third act. By starting in media res, the story kicks off from the beginning wasting no time on fluff. Once most of the young adults have been killed and our final girl makes her escape in the woods, In a Violent Nature comes screeching to a confusing halt. Its final ten-minute stretch is certainly bold but is especially jarring considering the film’s hook.

Another successful indie horror film both critically and commercially, In a Violent Nature offers plenty of action to horror fans and casual moviegoers to warrant a recommendation. Its unique approach to the well-worn story of teenagers stumbling upon horror at a lakeside cabin makes for engaging conversations on the perspective of violence. Some may be turned off by the languid, and, at times, punishing pacing, but will be rewarded with some of the most inventive kills in the subgenre in recent memory. Johnny may not ever be able to replace Jason, but he will certainly cement his own unique legacy in the slasher cannon. 

Overall Score? 7/10