In a Violent Nature is a 2024 period-piece set in Canada which aims to revitalize its attention to slashers. It is shot by Canadian director Chris Nash. The movie splits its narrative through the eyes of a murderer, ascending brutality in both violence and storytelling. Action and scope blend with nature and raw imagery of the world for a visceral viewing experience of a slasher. This innovative filmmaking has been praised as the most disturbing movie of the year.
Synopsis
In the Ontario backwoods, a group of youths are descending towards a forest retreat. Their group consists of Kris, Colt, Troy, Evan, Ehren, Brodie and Aurora. On their way, they find an old, rusty fire tower. At the top of the tower, they find a locket which upon closer inspection opens up to reveal the grim visage of a rotund, mummified figure sealed with the locket’s clasp. The figure is revealed to be the corpse of Johnny, a screaming, deformed lightning mute with a tragic yet terrifying past.
As Troy absently fiddles with the locket, he opens a door of terror as it brings forth Johnny from his unholy slumber. With no regard to rest, Johnny, animated in a grotesque manner and with one intention, goes into self-contained silence—of retrieving his locket and unleashing carnage on the living souls who shatter his quietude. This leads to Johnny captivating each bounteous soul in death traps as he encircles them in scrutinising endurance—before succumbing to the overpowering urge to release unprecedented levels of brutality.
As opposed to every slasher film where the spotlight is always in the victims, In a Violent Nature had a unique take of using the killer as the principle focus in camera. The camera captures Johnny in his primal state in the woods: strolling in a trance, capable of metamorphosing into any flora, but mostly remaining in ambush as he facemask glues to tree-behind equipping him with tools for diabolic deeds, while daydreaming: wind dances through the leaves, forget-me-nots hum in harmony, harmonious music of birds—which creates an unsettling atmosphere which compels the viewers to engross themselves within the meditative rhythm before each unapologetic slaughter unravels utter disarray.
The reveal for Johnny’s backstory is that he was a developmentally disabled child who died from a cruel prank gone awry. His tragic demise unfolded when he was lured to the tower, which was subsequently covered up by the townsfolk alongside his lifeless body. With the recent change in his status as a not-so-mindless killer, he has also transformed into a figure of elemental vengeance—one who is destined to repay the wrath after being mercilessly damaged.
The storytelling in this film is sparse and atmospheric. The use of dialogue is limited, focusing on showing rather than telling. This approach heightens the sense of dread and lingers towards the movie’s more dreamlike or nightmarish aspects. There is no escaping or feeling safe; it’s about violence that approaches step by step with each beat, and which is rooted in the landscape surrounding it.
Cast & Crew
Main Cast:
Johnny – Ry Barrett
Kris – Andrea Pavlovic
Colt – Cameron Love
Troy – Liam Leone
Evan – Alexander Oliver
Ehren – Sam Roulston
Brodie – Lea Rose Sebastianis
Aurora – Charlotte Creaghan
The Ranger – Reece Presley
The Woman – Lauren-Marie Taylor
Crew:
Director / Writer: Chris Nash
Producers: Peter Kuplowsky, Shannon Hanmer
Executive Producer: Casey Walker
Cinematography: Pierce Derks
Editing: Alex Jacobs
Chris Nash brings an individual voice to this project, having been best known for his segment in the anthology film ABCs of Death 2. His direction in In a Violent Nature displays an understanding of horror traditions, balanced with the boldness to subvert them.
The film is among the first features under Montreal-based production company H26. Derks’ cinematography is without question one of the film’s standout features. Using long takes, natural lighting, and solitary lingering shots of the environment, he contributes to the film’s sense of place while crafting an immersive atmosphere that is both unsettling and brooding. Jacobs’ editing is characterized by a slow, methodical rhythm, echoing the movements of the killer and deepening the sinister seduction of the film.
Wilderness and decaying structures in the Algoma District of Ontario form the remote setting of the film. The setting adds to the character’s decay, isolation, and erase. The untouched forests also conjure up the characters’ eerie and haunting destiny.
IMDb Ratings & Critical Reception
As of mid 2025, In a Violent Nature has an IMDb rating of 6.2 out of 10. While that score may appear moderate, it denotes a reception that is deeply divisive – one that mirrors the bold and experimental character of the film.
Critics have praised the film’s originality. Instead of presenting the classic slasher point of view, it chose to pioneer boundary viewing from the killer’s perspective. Capturing natural soundscapes and using slow pacing coupled with violence created a world that is horror and distressing at the same time.
Choosing to focus on atmosphere rather than jump scares, many have likened the film’s approach to the practical effects and unflinching gore to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and It Follows. The practical effects of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and It Follows were centered on the suffocating dread created, supporting the unrelenting gore that has gained acclaim for being so brutally real.
Unlike most audiences, some might find the movie too abstract or too slow like those anticipating more traditional slasher elements. A full focus on characterization, minor dialogue, and observational slow-paced cinematography could be isolating for viewers more accustomed to a frenetic pacing with a condensed plot heavy navigate through horror films. To these viewers, the unconventional style of the film may come across as tiresome or self-indulgent.
That aside, In a Violent Nature is a film that is at this point part of cinematic folklore from its meditative horror to artistic risks, many fans of the genre have expressed deep enthusiasm. It’s a film that captures one’s attention as it provokes interpretation and discourse rather than offers simplistic answers or cheap thrills.
Final Thoughts
This is perhaps the most unconventional horror movie of all time. In a Violent Nature dodges the jump scare and character-driven encounter with violence typical of contemporary slashers instead opting for a chilling observation. It is one of the few slasher movies to excel in every aspect of filmmaking, from haunting cinematography to sparse storytelling to this unconventional angle we view the film from.
By opting to walk alongside the killer instead of the running away from him the film forces us to grapple violent in an deeply disturbing manner. As visionary as it may come off, one will be met with no debate that In a Violent Nature is a film that is bound to make people think deeply about violence as there is no shock if it stirs controversy for decades to come.
Watch Free Movies on Fmovies