IN A VIOLENT NATURE -- An Experimental Horror Film

Review by Adam Donato

Ry Barrett as "Johnny" in Chris Nash's IN A VIOLENT NATURE. Courtesy of Pierce Derks. An IFC Films & Shudder Release.

One of the directors featured in ABC's of Death 2, Chris Nash, directs his first feature, In a Violent Nature. The film follows an undead monster, literally! That's the bit. It's a slasher film from the perspective of the killer. Most scenes with unsuspecting human characters are seen from a distance through the bushes. This looks to be yet another high-profile horror release from Shudder, which specializes in horror films. The movie was shot three years ago and is just now receiving a release — but not a wide theatrical release, unfortunately. Will this gimmicky horror film by a first-time writer-director connect with mainstream audiences?

The horror slasher genre has been done to death. Finding a new perspective to approach the genre is a breath of fresh air. In a Violent Nature strips the basic story down to only the necessary bits. Audiences already have seen the story of a group of twenty-somethings vacationing at a cabin in the woods so they can do drugs and have sex. So, only getting snippets from afar is narratively satisfying enough. Forget the annoying dialogue between the friends. In A Violent Nature opts to focus on the relentless pursuit of the monster. This keeps the tension high throughout the film. It also lends itself to some striking shots in the movie. There are several close-up shots of the killer's bloody hand that are extremely effective.

Ry Barrett as "Johnny" in IN A VIOLENT NATURE. Courtesy of Pierce Derks. An IFC Films & Shudder Release.

What doesn't work about the film's gimmick is the pacing and length. There's more walking around in this movie than the Lord of the Rings trilogy. For the more impatient audiences, this indie horror will be considered way too slow. That being said, when the killer finally arrives near its prey, the kills are so bombastic and over the top that it feels like a satisfying conclusion to the wait. The film runs at just over ninety minutes, and it's clear they had to stretch out the runtime to make it feature-length. Honestly, this film would've worked better with even less dialogue, especially towards the end, as there's a conversation that drags out the ending to the point of losing momentum. The film still ends on a satisfying note, but getting through the bulk of the third act feels like the story is stretching itself. Going forward, it will be interesting to see if Nash can maintain this type of freshness. 

The horror genre has seen surprising hits from all sorts of places this year. Shudder has slowly been asserting itself as one of the better studios when it comes to horror output. Hopefully, In A Violent Nature will generate enough buzz to escalate to a wide theatrical release. It takes a familiar setup and brings a fresh visual perspective. It's not unlike the recent indie Sasquatch Sunset in that it's a cooler idea than it is a film to watch. Both include a lot of walking but are impressive for what they're able to accomplish in a feature-length film. Ambition should be recognized and celebrated so In a Violent Nature is certainly worth a watch for horror fans. ​

In a Violent Nature hits theaters on May 31.

Rating: 4/5