THE PREMISE:

"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." 

OUR MOVIE REVIEW:

Don’t Get Too Hung Up On Reason

The reason why any killer in a slasher flick goes around hacking up victims is ultimately inconsequential. At a point near the end of In a Violent Nature, a character explains to another character that some animal predators develop “hen house syndrome,” turning them into mindless killing machines. Do we ask why? Nope.

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In a Violent Nature is about the best slow-rolling slasher movie you could hope for. Filmed from the perspective of the killer “Johnny,” this film is well-crafted, sinister, and has plenty of gruesome kills. Qualities like acting, character development, and plot are not required. If this sounds like your type of film, you can stop reading now.

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Okay, you’re still here with me and wondering why anyone would be interested in seeing a lumbering killer tediously kill nameless and faceless people in the woods. Mostly, I believe, because slashers deliver a ubiquitous and ironic calm. We know what we’re getting into.

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Slashers grant power over their audiences. This power manifests as smarmy intelligence, “I would never make that decision,” or “I totally saw that coming.” We feel safe knowing that when the credits roll, we are guaranteed to survive. Slashers bestow catharsis. 

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In a Violent Nature doles out dread at a snail’s pace. Virtually every victim meets their fate in sequences that feel like slow motion. The killing method is telegraphed, and we stare transfixed as if watching a train wreck happen in real-time. The true scares in this movie are not from “what” but from “when.”

I asked myself a question that defied explanation throughout this film. Why does “Johnny” bother with his insufferable existence? The film relies on a MacGuffin, a necklace. This necklace is stolen in the opening scene, causing “Johnny” to literally surface to retrieve it. The problem with this plot point is that only a cockeyed optimist would think either the weather or animals would have dislodged the necklace at any time otherwise. 

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This film does not have a score; it just has deafening foley audio of stomping footsteps or blades slicing through flesh. There are no slick camera tricks, just steadicam or tracking shots. Scenes linger in a fixed position for minutes—smooth and uncomplicated. I appreciate when a film punches its weight.

In a Violent Nature does not ask you to think, just to watch.