Have you ever wanted a peek behind the curtain on Jason Voorhees as he stalks his teenage Camp Crystal Lake fodder? If so, "In a Violent Nature" gives horror fans the opportunity, as it follows a hulking killer who is supernaturally awakened from his grave deep in the woods, and begins stalking and brutally killing off anyone who crosses his path.
While this film is sure to alienate general audiences, fans of the horror and slasher genres are likely to have some fun with this novel (albeit simplistic) concept. First things first: This film is languorous in its pacing. There are countless protracted sequences in which the killer is followed by the camera as he lumbers through the terrain (which is gorgeously photographed), occasionally encountering (and eventually preying on) the unfortunate people who happen to be having a nature outing. Despite this, I didn't find the film veering into tedium, and, ultimately, this is a low-stakes watch by any measure: Because the focal point is the killer, there is little narrative commitment and the characters are sparsely drawn. It is all ultimately an experiment in perspective that takes some gambles but I think ultimately reaps rewards.
The most casual filmgoers will note the "Friday the 13th" and Jason Voorhees references here, which are aplenty, but the film also shares a lot in common with lesser-known '80s slashers such as "The Prey" or even "Madman" (the latter in regard to its eco-horror subtext, the former more so in terms of the mythology building of its killer). The film is really a love letter to these movies, albeit with a built-in gimmick. The actors here do what they can with the skeletal screenplay and serve their roles as ciphers for brutality--and there is in fact plenty of it. In terms of gore, the film delivers on its title, boasting some nasty and over-the-top murder sequences that are true showstoppers.
There is a shift in the last act of the film that in some sense betrays the commitment to its exercise, but slasher alumna Lauren-Marie Taylor (those who know will recognize her from "Friday the 13th Part 2" and "Girls Nite Out") is more than enough to make this worthwhile. All in all, "In a Violent Nature" is not a film that will have a wide appeal, but slasher fans who have pondered the more mundane mechanics of how a killer like Jason Voorhees earns his keep will find this experiment of a film worth watching. 7/10.
While this film is sure to alienate general audiences, fans of the horror and slasher genres are likely to have some fun with this novel (albeit simplistic) concept. First things first: This film is languorous in its pacing. There are countless protracted sequences in which the killer is followed by the camera as he lumbers through the terrain (which is gorgeously photographed), occasionally encountering (and eventually preying on) the unfortunate people who happen to be having a nature outing. Despite this, I didn't find the film veering into tedium, and, ultimately, this is a low-stakes watch by any measure: Because the focal point is the killer, there is little narrative commitment and the characters are sparsely drawn. It is all ultimately an experiment in perspective that takes some gambles but I think ultimately reaps rewards.
The most casual filmgoers will note the "Friday the 13th" and Jason Voorhees references here, which are aplenty, but the film also shares a lot in common with lesser-known '80s slashers such as "The Prey" or even "Madman" (the latter in regard to its eco-horror subtext, the former more so in terms of the mythology building of its killer). The film is really a love letter to these movies, albeit with a built-in gimmick. The actors here do what they can with the skeletal screenplay and serve their roles as ciphers for brutality--and there is in fact plenty of it. In terms of gore, the film delivers on its title, boasting some nasty and over-the-top murder sequences that are true showstoppers.
There is a shift in the last act of the film that in some sense betrays the commitment to its exercise, but slasher alumna Lauren-Marie Taylor (those who know will recognize her from "Friday the 13th Part 2" and "Girls Nite Out") is more than enough to make this worthwhile. All in all, "In a Violent Nature" is not a film that will have a wide appeal, but slasher fans who have pondered the more mundane mechanics of how a killer like Jason Voorhees earns his keep will find this experiment of a film worth watching. 7/10.
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