Pretty Views, Deadly Skews

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A superbly precise slasher masterpiece that both Art-house and Horror enthusiasts can enjoy.

“In a Violent Nature” does not get bogged down in plot twists or disturbing character development. Although, killing machine Johnny’s motives are made known early on: a simple campfire lore appropriately reveals an origin story without the grueling flashback we’ve become so accustomed. Teens vacationing in the woods (I know, tale-as-old-as-time) discover an old locket in the wreckage of a fire-lookout tower. When it is taken, they unknowingly unearth the massively hulking monstrosity that is Johnny (a flannel-wearing Michael Myers of sorts). His will for revenge is immediately clear.

Writer/Director Chris Nash’s long shots of the beautiful Ontario woodlands and sounds of chirping birds are a meditative experience as we wait for the next bloody and gruesome kill.

The teen angst is typical of the genre, but is treated as almost background noise. Their drama, and the drama between a park ranger and a nearby local, are just enough to not overshadow Johnny. And most of the film centers from his point of view as he watches; then cleverly disembodies, decapitates and mutilates so cleverly and most effortlessly. But in-between, we enjoy plenty of pretty lakes and lushly scenic nature.

The tense ending is long, drawn-out, and a subtle experiment in psychological terror.

I don’t want to spoil anything for anybody. So, all I’ll say is this: the last few minutes of “In a Violent Nature” takes us on a nice unsettling ride that switches the focus, a bit. I’ll just leave it at that. Otherwise, the film does nothing more than deliver plenty of carnage, which makes it quite a treat.