It’s hard to put a finger on how he does it, but with his debut feature film, the awkwardly titled In a Violent Nature filmmaker Chris Nash has done the near impossible: create an effectively-haunting horror film by incorporating all the tired genre tropes.
That’s right. All the things we usually complain about in horror movies are somehow utilized to great effect in this gripping horror film that breathes new life into familiar genre conventions. There’s little to no character development, no character motivating factors, no clear narrative, and not a single soul we give a damn about. Yet, In a Violent Nature is a must-watch for horror enthusiasts, gore lovers, and anyone passionate about the darker side of cinema.
The film begins in the woods, as they all do, where a couple of bros find a a gold locket hanging inside an old, dilapidated shack. Of course they take the locket, as you do, and return to the girls they left in their forest-bound VRBO cabin.
As soon as they leave however, the leafy dirt inside the shack begins to rustle, slowly revealing a hand, then an arm, then the rest of the body of a rotting corpse that climbs out of the hole and begins a long committed march through the trees looking for victims. Who is he? What does he want? And where is he going?
We never really get much, but it is eventually revealed – emphasis on “eventually” – that the reanimated corpse is that of Johnny (a wonderful Ry Barrett, The Heretic), a mentally deficient man who was bullied, then killed, and buried in the woods. Now that Johnny has been reanimated, the story becomes a deep dive into the nature revenge and predation as Johnny sets his sights on victims… any victims. And our poor, entitled gen-z-ers just happen to be the nearest living souls.
Barrett’s subdued but dedicated performance captures the raw, animalistic instincts of a predator. Suit him up with an old-timey Vejan-Bader fire fighting mask and you have the makings of a new mythic, and iconic monster. The lack of motivation behind his killing rampage adds a much-appreciated layer of horror and intrigue to the proceedings. After all, isn’t a killer with little to no motivation, other than to just kill, one of the life’s scariest thoughts?
Nash's direction is really the star of the show here as he masterfully blends homage with innovation. Clearly inspired by such iconic films as My Bloody Valentine and Friday the 13th, Nash creates an atmosphere that is both nostalgic and refreshingly original. His movie is a treasure trove of inventive kill scenes, each more shocking and creative than the last. The use of extremely gory practical effects heightens the sense of realism, making the violence feel visceral and immediate.
Though a bit slow at times, we follow behind Johnny for minutes at a time as he trudges through the forest, In a Violent Nature is a refreshing triumph of horror filmmaking. Imagine Friday the 13th, but as seen from the perspective of the killer. Nash has crafted a film that is both a loving tribute to classic horror and a bold reimagining of the genre. With its effective use of gore, innovative kill scenes (of which there are many), and a standout performance by Ry Barrett, it is sure to leave a lasting impression on horror enthusiasts. Even the film's 4:3 aspect ratio digs up fond memories of watching watching old horror films in our living rooms back in the day. If you're a fan of the genre, In a Violent Nature is not to be missed.
Get ready for a wild, gruesome, NC-17 ride that will have you questioning the nature of revenge and the primal instincts that lie within us all.
MPAA Rating: NC-17.
Runtime: 94 mins
Director: Chris Nash
Writer: Chris Nash
Cast: Ry Barrett; Andrea Pavlovic; Cameron Love
Genre: Horror
Tagline: A Film by Chris Nash.
Memorable Movie Quote: "Animals don't get hung up on reason. they just keep killing."
Theatrical Distributor: IFC Films
Official Site: https://www.inaviolentnature.com/
Release Date: May 31, 2024
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: When a locket is removed from a collapsed fire tower in the woods that entombs the rotting corpse of Johnny, a vengeful spirit spurred on by a horrific 60-year old crime, his body is resurrected and becomes hellbent on retrieving it.
