Review: ‘In a Violent Nature,’ a day in the life of serial killer

Have you ever wondered what Jason Voorhees does all day when he’s not onscreen? Well, Chris Nash’s In a Violent Nature invites the viewer to take a stroll through the wilderness with a killer named Johnny. As he stalks and slaughters his prey, a bunch of faceless 20-somethings looking for cheap thrills at the lake, the audience peeps even the most mundane moments in the life of a serial killer.

Nash shoots 90 percent of the film from Johnny’s perspective, allowing for a vantage point we’ve never quite seen before. While Halloween and Friday the 13th have given audiences first-person POV of specific kills, In a Violent Nature immerses you in the process of killing – ala Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon. Such a bold storytelling model operates to knock the audience off balance and make them think differently about what a slasher can be.

In a Violent Nature features no score or soundtrack. Instead, Nash opts for the sounds of nature as the backdrop to Johnny’s killing. The crunch of leaves and twigs, the chirp of birds, and the gurgle of lake water prove to be vital puzzle pieces to the film’s effectiveness. Such a creative decision plants the film in reality, as though it could happen to anyone. Where many slashers are exaggerated, from the acting to the soundtrack, Nash offers realism in a way we don’t often experience in the subgenre.

Considering we haven’t seen Friday the 13th on the big screen in 15 years, this is as close as we’ll get for the time being. The film clearly takes cues from Jason’s saga, as well as films like The Burning and A Bay of Blood. It twists these influences and unleashes gushing blood splatter and mutilated bodies. The kills make Johnny a true force of horrifying proportions. The yoga sequence, in particular, is history-making, as Chris Nash goes for the throat to deliver something truly special. If you were to scream “WHOA!” like I did, you’d have the appropriate emotional reaction. It’s visceral, relentless, and perfectly body-bending.

You’re probably asking yourself: what about the main characters? Well, we don’t get to know them. They fade into the background, simply lambs to the slaughter. Their fates were sealed the moment they arrived at camp, so it ultimately doesn’t matter who they are. We hear bits and pieces of dialogue but nothing substantial to indicate they’re anything more than slasher leftovers. Through Johnny’s viewpoint, we learn as much about them as he does – there are relationship tensions, good-natured ribbing, and plenty of debauchery.

The group does play a significant role in the film, though, as their actions serve as the impetus behind Johnny’s rampage. When one among them steals a locket hanging in an abandoned shack, it awakens Johnny from his grave. He emerges like a flesh-eater out of Night of the Living Dead and traipses through the woods to find it. He exacts his revenge in blood-curdling ways that solidify him as a new horror icon. While Nash only gives us a few clues into Johnny’s backstory, it’s just enough to flesh out his character and even endear him to the audience. Much like Jason fans, you might even cheer for Johnny – to see what tools he uses to kill, that is.

In a Violent Nature is an adrenaline injection for the slasher genre. While we’ve been in the midst of a slasher renaissance for a few years, Chris Nash’s film pushes the trend to new heights. It both feels classic and contemporary, fusing styles that expand and honor the genre’s roots. With its commitment to authenticity, also courtesy of cinematographer Pierce Dierks, it inhabits a whole new world for what slashers could become next.

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