In A Violent Nature (Film Review)

In A Violent Nature presents horror fans with an unusual cinematic paradox, in that it utilises every trope of the slasher genre you can think of while still feeling utterly unique. Described as an “ambient slasher,” the film was written and directed by Chris Nash, best known for his segment ‘Z is for Zygote' in ABC's of Death 2 (2014). It made waves at this year's Sundance Film Festival and is finally set to be released in the UK this July.

The film aligns audiences with its villain, as we follow Johnny (Ry Barrett) in his pursuit of a stolen locket, hacking down anyone and everyone who gets in his way. Through snippets of conversation between a group of campers and local law enforcement, we learn it's not the first time Johnny has wreaked havoc upon the idyllic forest — with this vital information giving hiker Kris (Andrea Pavlovic) a shot at survival.

The campfire killing spree is nothing new within horror—Friday the 13th, of course—but where In A Violent Nature shines is how it delivers its scares with a bizarrely soothing quality that makes each bloody kill all the more excruciating. Much of the film's runtime follows Johnny walking through the woods, surrounded by the sound of creatures calling, wind rustling, and foliage cracking under his heavy boots. The lack of score is quietly unnerving, and focuses attention on any small sound he makes much like his victims trying to evade his clutches.

Again, a horror villain like Johnny is nothing we haven't seen before, but his vintage firefighter-inspired costume and intricate mythology sets him apart from his predecessors. He delivers some of the most creative and gory kills in recent slasher cinema. You'll never be able to look at logging hooks (or yoga) the same again after watching In A Violent Nature, that's for sure.

Information about Johnny's tragic demise at the hands of local loggers and his previous brutal rampage are drip-fed to viewers through campfire ghost stories and a forest warden desperately trying to help the remaining hikers. It grounds the narrative in a realism that doesn't spoon-feed the audience every bit of detail they need. This works jarringly against the hyper-real gore and flamboyantly comedic acting of the ensemble cast.

Barrett's performance as Johnny is captivating despite him never uttering a line of dialogue and mostly meandering through the picturesque woods. In A Violent Nature acts as a masterclass in tension building, with Barrett's characterisation of the lumbering killing machine essential in hooking the audience into his plight to retrieve his beloved locket. His methodical trip around the forest becomes terrifying as it is clear he doesn't feel the need to run or sneak around like your typical predator. He knows this area like the back of his hand, and there's little chance of the hikers escaping. This hopelessness seeps into the film's pores and steeps every ambient walking sequence in dread, almost making the bloody kills feel like a welcome relief.

The stripped-back nature of the approach feels distinctive in the over-saturated slasher genre, while also paying homage to the iconic flicks that have come before it without cramming easter eggs unnaturally into the narrative. Nash is a director with a love for genre cinema, and it's abundantly clear in his craft as he doesn't quite re-invent the wheel, but gives us a fresh take on slasher films that is tense and engrossing — emphasis on the gross.

In A Violent Nature releases in US cinemas on 31st May, and UK cinemas from 12th July.