In a Violent Nature

Did Black Christmas walk so that In a Violent Nature could…walk as well?

The new POV-heavy Canadian horror is the subject of much discussion, particularly the perambulation situation… the film’s antagonist…basically walking, walking walking for what seems like half the film’s runtime, as the viewer gets a gander of the killer’s backside, as if it’s some kind of video game.

To the extent In a Violent Nature works, really depends on whether the viewer can summon stoicism and sit through stretches where effectively (or, un-effectively as is the case) nothing happens. Think Skinamarink. Or some of the driving in Manos: The Hands of Fate. Or some of the pointless driving around Los Angeles in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood for a non-horror example.

The first 2-3 stretches of the silent killer trudging through the dark forest are tone-setting and terrifying, the 4th and 5th questionable, and the 6th and 7th, well-nigh unbearable.

That makes In a Violent Nature a tough slog, especially given the absence of compelling characters. In fact, character development is a complete afterthought. It makes Demons look like 12 Angry Men.

What we get instead are rough sketches, barely functional NPCs.

There’s barely any dialogue/chatter here either, save for a Madman-like campfire tale, and some uninspired riffing about a character’s manhood and some half-baked cancel culture ruminations. Guess nobody’s read So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson.

It’s too bad, as In a Violent Nature has a great setting – with beautiful northern Ontario a character unto itself – and Canadian indie horror stalwart Ry Barrett (Save Yourself) bringing antagonist Johnny to life with a spirited performance. The killer’s forest fighting aesthetic and weaponry are sublime too, conjuring up another Canadian blue-collar killer, Harry Warden the miner from My Bloody Valentine.

At times tantalizing – and with one especially creative and gory set piece which will nama-ste with you for years – it’s nonetheless criminally overlong. Ergo, In a Violent Nature sits in a nether region of lost opportunity.

*** (out of 5)