Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Battlefield 6 Classes - Support trailer image

    Battlefield 6 Really Wants You To Play Support (But Knows You Won’t)

    07/31/2025
    Battlefield 6 Multiplayer Reveal promotional image

    Battlefield 6 Classes, Maps, And More: Everything You Need To Know

    07/31/2025
    A glimpse at all the upcoming Star Wars stories coming to the galaxy

    Star Wars Stories: What We Learned At SDCC 2025

    07/25/2025
    Blindspot episode still

    It’s been 5 years since ‘Blindspot’ ended. Why haven’t you watched it yet?

    07/24/2025
    Strange Scaffold

    Strange Scaffold Summer Showcase Delivers Bizarre And Brilliant Games

    07/22/2025
  • Fantasia Festival
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Switch 2 Games
But Why Tho?
Home » Film » SUNDANCE 2024: ‘In A Violent Nature’ Flips The Slasher Formula

SUNDANCE 2024: ‘In A Violent Nature’ Flips The Slasher Formula

Kate SánchezBy Kate Sánchez01/23/20243 Mins ReadUpdated:03/28/2024
In A Violent Nature
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

A slasher, from the perspective of the killer, is a concept that is easy to get behind. In an era of asymmetrical horror games where you get the chance to embody the killer as you hunt down victims, picking the slasher as your protagonist and focusing on their kills is a choice that is sure to be a crowd pleaser. That is only if you keep the space faster than your slasher’s slow stalking. In A Violent Nature delivers on the concept with some inspired kills but doesn’t manage to go above a slow, staggering pace.

Directed and written by Chris Nash, In A Violent Nature is his directorial feature debut, and he played a part in Sundance 2024’s Midnight programming. Nash understands the way slasher films work. He is deeply aware of how to use horror archetypes like resurrection, stalking, motive, and, of course, the victim tropes that come into play too. Set in the remote wilderness, a group of friends wakes up a murderer by picking up a locket. Only the focus of this film isn’t the friends. Instead, we follow the giant of a killer as he wakes up and wreaks havoc on their campsite.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

For the better part of the film, In A Violent Nature positions the audience behind the killer. We see him watch the group of friends in the distance as we clearly hear their conversations. We’re in the position of observer but differently than we traditionally are in films like this. For that point alone, it works. Watching the hunter and not the prey is entertaining, but Nash chooses to switch perspectives whenever exposition is needed.

It’s a choice that sometimes works because it embodies the subgenre, particularly when the group is sitting around a fire talking about the mysterious massacre that happened ten years prior. It’s a moment that works. Switching the camera when needed to highlight the specter in the background builds suspense. However, when it’s done too many times, In A Violent Nature loses its subversion of the slasher formula, and instead, the film begins to feel unfocused. The moments of prolonged dialogue endlessly drag on and contribute to the 94-minute film feeling much longer.

But the film falls into a catch-22. The film can’t be just kill after kill, but the downtime between them often feels more like fumbling in the forest than quickly rampaging through the scenery. The stillness works in spots, especially when brutal kills erupt from it. These moments are the highlight of the film. One in particular, which we’ll call the yoga kill, absolutely rips through the audience. It’s visceral and mean, and it shakes up the film. That said, nothing reaches the height of that kill, and the film rolls to a stop instead.

Even with its flaws, however, In A Violent Nature shows the limitless promise that Nash has as a director. His concept, character work in relation to the slasher, and deep knowledge of the genre shine through in the film. While the film isn’t perfect, it does indicate a big future for Nash in the future.

When In A Violent Nature is firing, it does so on all cylinders. That makes it a great late-night watch for fans looking for something creative in the slasher genre. However, with a stalled pace and dialogue that sometimes runs too long, the film is better in concept than execution.

In A Violent Nature is being released by IFC Midnight and Shudder.

In A Violent Nature
  • 6/10
    Rating - 6/10
6/10

TL;DR

When In A Violent Nature is firing, it does so on all cylinders. That makes it a great late-night watch for fans looking for something creative in the slasher genre. However, with a stalled pace and dialogue that sometimes runs too long, the film is better in concept than execution.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy’ Is the Ace Bundle (Switch)
Next Article Jewish Guilt And Jewish Science In ‘Oppenheimer’
Kate Sánchez
  • Website
  • X (Twitter)
  • Instagram

Kate Sánchez is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of But Why Tho? A Geek Community. There, she coordinates film, television, anime, and manga coverage. Kate is also a freelance journalist writing features on video games, anime, and film. Her focus as a critic is championing animation and international films and television series for inclusion in awards cycles. Find her on Bluesky @ohmymithrandir.bsky.social

Related Posts

Simon in An Honest Life But Why Tho
3.5

REVIEW: ‘An Honest Life’ Is Terribly Dishonest About Its Own Politics

08/02/2025
Brandon Routh and co in Ick
9.0

REVIEW: ‘Ick’ Is A Near Perfect Horror-Comedy

07/29/2025
Bad Bunny and Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore 2
5.0

REVIEW: ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ Earns More Shrugs Than Laughs

07/29/2025
Hi-Five
6.5

FANTASIA 2025: ‘Hi-Five’ Introduces A Scrappy, Superpowered Team Up

07/28/2025
Still from Haunted Mountains The Yellow Taboo
5.5

FANTASIA 2025: ‘Haunted Mountains: The Yellow Taboo’ Gets A Little Lost In The Weeds

07/26/2025
Dakota Gorman in HELLCAT
6.5

FANTASIA 2025: ‘HELLCAT’ Runs High In Tension But Loses Steam

07/25/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Wildgate promotional key art
9.0
PC

REVIEW: ‘Wildgate’ Is Co-Op Space Mayhem Done Right

By Adrian Ruiz07/25/2025Updated:07/30/2025

Built for friends and tuned for competition, Wildgate is messy in the best way: smart, surprising, and bursting with room to grow.

Glass Heart
7.0
TV

REVIEW: ‘Glass Heart’ Offers Messy, Musical Catharsis

By Allyson Johnson07/22/2025

The musical drama series ‘Glass Heart’ soars when it focuses on the epic performances of it’s fictional band, TENBLANK.

Simon in An Honest Life But Why Tho
3.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘An Honest Life’ Is Terribly Dishonest About Its Own Politics

By Jason Flatt08/02/2025

An Honest Life is an overly severe misfire about a law student who falls in with anarchist burglars that can’t decide who it resents more.

World of Warcraft The War Within Ghosts of Karesh But Why Tho Interviews

‘The War Within’ Patch 11.2 Addresses Raid Trash, Magic-Focused Comps, And More

By Mick Abrahamson07/31/2025Updated:07/31/2025

WoW Sr. Producer and Asst. Lead Quest Designer address The War Within 11.2’s Manaforge Omega, Reshii Wrap rewards, and Mythic+ balancing.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here