Horror-October 2024: #23

What an honest to god spectacle this cinematic creation is. There is just so much visual dessert throughout this entire film, and I am here for it all. You can be very creative with the words you use to describe any film, but with a movie like this, you simply have to see for yourself. ‘In A Violent Nature’ (2024) is a movie like no other. I truly have not been able to think of a movie that was like this. Everything is in the cinematography, while still setting out a straight forward slasher. I loved every second of this picture, and I’m amazed more people aren’t in love with this. 

Chris Nash clearly had an agenda when he was going into a project like this. There had to be a uniqueness to the whole film, while at the same time pull out some of the greatest visuals in a low budget slasher film. There is so much time spent in this film admiring the scenery, and soaking in the light of nature. Cinematographer, Pierce Derks is no stranger to elevating a genre piece like this. He managed to help create stunning visuals in films like ‘The Void’ (2016) and ‘Mandy’ (2018). This being one of this strongest additions in this young career, it’s obvious there is much to come from Derks and his work behind the camera. 

There are some pretty nifty kills throughout this entire movie, and one in particular that is just unforgettable to say the least. Sure, there are long moments throughout the movie where nothing really happens, but when the violence kicks in, it really kicks in. Like the movies from the 1980’s this is paying homage to, we see a creativity in a lot of the kills that happen on screen. They are plenty gory, and it is honestly just absurd to because it can be. Some of the usage of blood in this movie is so jarring, it’s tough to get out of the mind. If you enjoy these styles of films, ‘In A Violent Nature’ (2024) has a pretty great level of gore throughout.

On top of ‘In A Violent Nature’ (2024) being slow (on purpose) and also having a great level of violence, it is also just a very funny movie all together. If you understand the movies this film is paying homage to, you’ll understand how these tropes really did show up all the time. Now we just get to see the in between of the killer instead of random bursts. This whole thing is not shy when it comes to the references of ‘Friday The 13th’ (1980) and the many sequels to follow. Everything is pretty much the same when it comes to story, which makes it all that much more funny. Little hints are left like a trail so the audience can piece together what this movie really means by the end. Being able to mix humor with such a somber toned film isn’t easy, but ‘In A Violent Nature’ (2024) nails it on the head. 

The idea of trauma is always played out in the contemporary horror film setting. Movies like ‘Smile’ (2022) and ‘Talk To Me’ (2022) really hammer this idea home, and frankly it’s pretty obnoxious. Instead of all of that in this movie, we actually get to see the brutal acts play out. Now the ending scene is so interesting to me, and it is such a patient scene. The contemplative remorse that drowns out the sound on the screen makes the audience truly wonder what happens to all the survivors of these slasher films. ‘Halloween’ (2018) made some good points about this, but not as intellectual as this film. What an amazing way to wrap out such a strong film, and it’s a brave move to end on this note, but it works so very well. 

Chris Nash’s ‘In A Violent Nature’ (2024) might very well be one of my favorite films of the year so far. This movie is so trusting in the audience, and it’s patient with so much delivery time. There is plenty of gore for the people who love to see it, but there is also loads of humor that horror heads can laugh to. This is a brilliant film that really takes us on a slow moving journey through the theater of violence. I am truly obsessed with this whole movie, and perhaps there doesn’t need to be a sequel that is already being talked about, because this is just a classy picture through and through, and let’s not tarnish the name.