Ever questioned what a masked maniac within the vein of Friday the 13th’s Jason Voorhees does in his downtime—or what it is likely to be like if Terrence Malick made a slasher movie? In a Violent Nature, which simply debuted at the Sundance Film Festival and can stream on Shudder, units out to reply each questions.
As you may inform from that description, writer-director Chris Nash’s movie has an intriguing premise. It’s filled with acquainted parts: it takes place within the woods and round a lake; its main victims are a gaggle of younger adults out for a great time; and its villain has a tragic backstory that explains what’s motivating his kill-crazy methods, with some super-powered enhancements that permit him to revive after grievous accidents. However its story unfolds in a most unconventional method. Its primary focus is the hulking Johnny, who digs himself out of a grave within the first scene after a hiker steals the sentimental talisman that’s been conserving his spirit at relaxation.
Instantly, Johnny’s again in slaughter mode, methodically stomping by means of the forest within the course of any human with the dangerous fortune to be on his turf. A hefty portion of In a Violent Nature is the digicam following behind Johnny as he walks, and walks, and walks. The movie additionally favors long-take static photographs that present Johnny in his atmosphere, stalking his prey like a Planet Earth documentary. There’s no discernible rating, however the soundscape is rigorously calibrated: forest atmosphere, like hen chirps and crunching leaves, is mixed with impolite human noise. This consists of automobile horns and music, but additionally voices we begin to overhear as Johnny creeps nearer. Typically, the viewers can solely catch scattered elements of conversations, although issues turn into clearer when it’s one thing essential—like exposition explaining the native lore Johnny has impressed, shared round a campfire in a scene that pays homage to what’s maybe In a Violent Nature’s most blatant slasher affect, Friday the thirteenth Half 2.
You’ll be able to’t put “violent” in your film title and never comply with by means of, and In a Violent Nature delivers; Johnny is commendably resourceful and detail-oriented in his homicide strategies. However whereas gory demise scenes are the slasher style’s raison d’être, the visceral executions we get listed below are introduced with the identical chilly detachment as the remainder of the movie. And even operatic bloodshed’s not fairly sufficient to make up for In a Violent Nature’s pacing, which trudges alongside similar to Johnny does.
The concept behind this movie is admirable. It absolutely commits to its poetic, Malick-like fashion, and it’s fantastic to see a filmmaker taking such a stunning, inventive strategy to considered one of cinema’s most trope-laden and infrequently under-appreciated genres. However In a Violent Nature’s nifty gimmick can also be, sadly, one thing of a downside. Positioning the movie from Johnny’s standpoint—with out delving into his mindset past “who can I kill subsequent?”—additionally means there’s valuable little rigidity all through. We all know the place he’s, or the place he’s probably lurking, practically each step of the best way, and we all know what he’s going to do. This saps any shock or pleasure out of the story—and the truth that we don’t get to know any of his practically indistinguishable victims, clearly a deliberate alternative meant to reflect Johnny’s personal absence of feelings or curiosity, means their deaths have zero impression.
You have got by no means seen a slasher like this earlier than, and possibly by no means will once more. It’s an interesting inventive experiment and style followers ought to undoubtedly give it a glance. However it could additionally make you want you have been watching a conventional slasher—for one thing extra enjoyable and entertaining, might we propose Friday the thirteenth Half 2?—as an alternative.
In a Violent Nature will stream on Shudder, although a launch date is TBD.
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