Two things are required for the arthouse slasher, ‘In a Violent Nature’ – patience, and a strong stomach. Because once a locket is taken from a grave by a group of reckless teens, something unstoppable awakens… Witness the wrath of a silent undead brute as he slaughters everyone in his path in an attempt to retrieve what was taken…
This horror film is made by someone who has a clear understanding of slasher films and is keen to experiment with form. Essentially, director Chris Nash subverts your typical slasher. He sticks to tried and tested formula, but changes the POV. While we are used to following a group of sterotypical teenagers set up camp, engage in random banter, drink copious amounts of alcohol, and have sex in the middle of the woods, this time we are trapped alongside the antagonist: listening in on conversations only as we get within earshot, and spying his victims through the thick foliage as his hulking presence leans across the screen. The dread before was born from anticipation of a bloody jump-scare kill as we didn’t know where the villain was hiding, but here dread is built from knowing the exact moment (and usually the exact method) that violence is about to happen, as our monster slowly stomps and stalks his way through the forest, like a predator hunting its prey, with us, the audience, literally just watching over his shoulder in a video game-esque third-person perspective.
Unsurprisingly, the cinematography is excellent throughout, featuring great framing, slow pans, a narrow aspect ratio, and a grimy look and feel lovingly evoking a 70s aesthetic. ‘In a Violent Nature’ is evidently tailor-made for those who enjoy slasher films. Newbies will no doubt find the experience dull and checkout before the halfway mark, but I urge that you don’t.
The story is basic but covers familiar ground and tropes in a way that writer-director Chris Nash is clearly showing his appreciation of the genre. The monster gets a backstory, eventually finds his own unique mask, and kills creatively using a variety of tools as well as utilising the immediate environment. And the kills are fucking brutal. The incredible practical effects are positively gruesome in their realism, and a couple of protracted murders will certainly test the limits of some viewers as bodies are violated in ways you didn’t know were possible. And yet, you still sit there almost eagerly awaiting the next splattery dose of pain and dismemberment; an uncomfortable voyeur of unforgiving savagery.
Overall, ‘In a Violent Nature’ proves to be a fresh and original take on the slasher subgenre, with a chilling, naturalistic approach and a host of gory delights. The meticulous camera work keeps you close to its villain and the arthouse style is an experiment that pays off. Its ending may initially seem sour as you will expect something else – maybe more violence – but upon reflection it reveals there’s much to unpick from the long conversation, as well as setting up a potential sequel – and another grisly rampage – horror fans would happily sit through.
Score – 7.5/10
The SS Criticism 