By: Nick Rodriguez
“In a Violent Nature”
NR/Horror/94 Mins
Director/Writer: Chris Nash
Starring: Ray Barrett (“Cult Hero”), Andrea Pavlovic (“Learn to Swim”), Lauren-Marie Taylor (Friday the 13th: Part 2”), Reece Presley (“Can I Get A Witness”), Cameron Love (“If I Should Die”) and Liam Leone (“The Pestilence”)
Synopsis: A masked killer stalks college kids at a cabin in the woods deep in the Canadian wilderness. You’ve seen this film before, but you haven’t seen it told entirely from the killer’s perspective…
Review: Have you ever wondered what’ll you get when you mix “Friday the 13th,” an A24 film and a nature documentary? I have your answer and it’s “In a Violent Nature.” This film is the feature directorial debut of writer/director Chris Nash who previously had an extensive career in special effects for almost 20 years. When you’re watching this film, it’s evident you’re watching a filmmaker who knows the ins and outs of special effects. Just knowing how to get scream-inducing gory/kill scenes photographed beautifully in its claustrophobic 4:3 aspect ratio. Every scene, with or without violence, looks like a still painting breathtaking in its own way. There is one death scene in particular that will give me stomach churning nightmares for days. Let’s just say it involves yoga…
The story is pretty simple. There is a local town legend of a tragedy named the “White Pines Slaughter” and the myth surrounding a zombie-like man who lives in the woods who may or may not have committed this horrific event. Years later, a group of college kids find the site of where the man, named Johnny, died and find a locket hanging on a metal pole. They decide to steal it…and that is where they messed up. Now in search of his family heirloom, Johnny, donning an old fireman’s mask, will slice and dice though anyone who stands in his way. Since the film follows Johnny for the majority of the film, all the character arcs and relationships between one another are mostly in the background. This isn’t their film, it’s Johnny’s. You’re given glimpses into their situation but the film keeps a slow but steady pace just going straight for their demise. Nash knows this what the audience came to see, and in a tongue and cheek way, subverts your expectations on how you expect to see these young adults triumph and win when in actuality, you’re hoping Johnny prevails and gets back his locket.
Going back on the film’s pacing, this is where it feels like you’re watching a nature documentary. The slow camera following closely behind the masked figure, the ambient sounds of nature, the crunch of leaves underneath his boots, you feel the dread as he follows and stalks his prey. Like a lion on the hunt. It’s even touched on later in the film when one of the characters refers to Johnny as an animal. Yet, it never is boring. The haunting imagery and the building terror grabs hold of you and never lets up. I also want to add how delighted I was to see a “Friday the 13th” alumni, Lauren Marie-Taylor (Vickie from “Friday the 13th: Part 2”), in a small yet important role. The story she tells near the end of the film is so captivating, it puts the whole film in perspective working as a metaphor of why Johnny is the way he is.
This is one of the best horror films I will see this year. This is the “Friday the 13th”-esque film fans didn’t know they wanted/needed. The beautiful thing is this is its own original thing, and it looks like we have another masked figure to join the ranks of Jason, Michael and Ghostface…here comes Johnny!
Score: 10/10
Catch “In a Violent Nature” in theaters with a limited release starting Friday, May 31st.
Look up showtimes here: https://www.inaviolentnature.com/tickets/
