Alright, you horror-loving degenerates, tonight we’re going to chat about one of my most anticipated flicks of the year: Chris Nash’s In a Violent Nature. This ain’t your grandma’s slasher flick. This is some wild, deconstructed, artsy-fartsy, acoustic take on Friday the 13th, but don’t let that scare you off. It’s still got all the blood, guts, and dumbass teenagers getting axed left and right. That all being said,, the reality is, if you don’t come into this film with at least a superficial knowledge/appreciation of the slasher sub-genre, you may not enjoy what makes this film so fucking brilliant.

So, who the hell is Chris Nash? This guy’s been mucking around in the horror short film scene for years, making creepy little films that get under your skin. Now he’s finally stepped up to the big leagues with his feature debut, In a Violent Nature. This film shows he’s got the balls to mess with the horror formula and the talent to pull it off without making us want to gouge our eyes out.

Set in the creepy-ass Canadian wilderness, this film involves a bunch of teenagers who piss off a vengeful undead killing machine, named Johnny, by stealing his momma’s locket. Johnny crawls out of his grave and starts slicing and dicing anyone dumb enough to get in his way. The flick is clearly an inversion of Friday the 13th. Johnny, much like Jason, was a “slow” kid in life. He and his parents died tragically and unjustly, fueling Johnny’s rage that transcends death. He’s a lumbering monster with an ugly ass face and wears flannel. He practically haunts the woods. Instead of a hokey mask, he wears an old-school firefighter mask. Instead of a machete, he yields an axe and hooks and chain. The interesting take here is we follow Johnny for the majority of the film, not the kids, not the final girl.

Let’s talk sound design cuz it really is front and center in this flick. Nash said, “Screw a traditional score,” and went with just the sounds of the forest. No spooky violins, no pounding drums. Just the eerie quiet of nature, making you feel like you’re right there in the woods about to crap your pants. For the majority of the film you follow Johnny, steadily plodding through nature. It ends up being sound that brings about the demise of most of the characters unfortunate enough to meet Johnny. A gunshot, the flick of a lighter, two girls chattering on a dock… Johnny, every so slowly traverses the forest until a sound catches his attention that eventually leads to some ultra-violence.

One of my favorite things about the flick is the story that is largely being told in the background – the story we would typically be watching in a typical slasher is simply being overheard by Johnny. As he approaches his victims, you hear conversations in characters in addition to other things such as radio broadcasts that do a lot of world building. In fact, it seems that in a parallel universe there is a In a Violent Nature franchise that never was with a rich history of Johnny awakening and wreaking havoc on the community.

Nash ditches the high-octane horror score and jump scares, opting for a slow-burn tension that makes you want to scream at the screen, “Hurry the fuck up!” The cinematography is all artsy, with lots of third-person shots that make it feel like you’re watching a horror video game. And the kills? Oh, man, the kills are juicy. We’re talking old-school practical effects that make every murder scene a gorehound’s wet dream. Johnny doesn’t just sneak up and stab you; he takes his time. You see the fear, the struggle, the absolute hopelessness. It’s like watching a nature documentary, but instead of lions eating gazelles, it’s a giant undead dude tearing teenagers apart. The lack of music makes every squelch and scream hit harder. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s fucking brutal.

So, there you have it. In a Violent Nature is a film that flips the slasher genre on its head, gives it an atomic wedgie, and kicks it in the nuts. It’s contemplative and brutal, with a sound design and cinematography that make you feel like you’re in the middle of the woods, about to get your face ripped off. Chris Nash has created an indelible slasher flick that’s as beautiful as it is gut-wrenching.

Director: Chris Nash
Writer: Chris Nash
Released May 31, 2024