In a Violent Nature
In a Violent Nature | |
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Directed by | Chris Nash |
Written by | Chris Nash |
Produced by |
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Cinematography | Pierce Derks |
Edited by | Alex Jacobs |
Production companies |
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Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 94 minutes[1] |
Country | Canada |
Language | English |
Box office | $2.1 million[2][3] |
In a Violent Nature is a 2024 Canadian experimental slasher film written and directed by Chris Nash. Described as an "ambient slasher",[4][5] the film follows a mute killer who targets a group of teenagers in the Ontario wilderness, with the events observed largely from the killer's perspective.[6][7]
In a Violent Nature premiered on January 22, 2024, at the Sundance Film Festival, as part of the festival's "Midnight" program,[4] and was theatrically released in the United States and Canada by IFC Films on May 31; it is scheduled to be released on the streaming service Shudder later in the year.[8][9]
The Film follows a resurrected killer that is searching for his stolen mother's locket. He brutally works his way through a group of friends in his pursuit.
Cast
- Ry Barrett as Johnny[5][7]
- Andrea Pavlovic as Kris
- Cameron Love as Colt
- Reece Presley as The Ranger
- Liam Leone as Troy
- Charlotte Creaghan as Aurora
- Lea Rose Sebastianis as Brodie
- Sam Roulston as Ehren
- Alexander Oliver as Evan
- Lauren-Marie Taylor as The Woman
- Timothy Paul McCarthy as Chuck
Style
Commentators have drawn comparisons between In a Violent Nature and slow cinema.[4][5] Nash drew inspiration for the film's style from the Gus Van Sant-directed films Gerry (2002), Elephant (2003) and Last Days (2005), which Nash characterizes as "slower, more methodical, more deliberate and follow characters through a scene."[4] Nash also cited the work of director Terrence Malick as an influence.[6]
In a Violent Nature emphasizes static long take shots, and features no musical score.[10]
Production
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Filming
Filming initially took place in the Kawartha Lakes area of Central Ontario, Canada, in 2021, but Nash later recalled that the locale "just felt like it wasn't hitting the right note for us".[4] The film was ultimately shot in Algoma District, Ontario, near Sault Ste. Marie.[4]
Release
In a Violent Nature had its world premiere on January 22, 2024, at the Sundance Film Festival, as part of the festival's "Midnight" program.[4] The film was theatrically released in the United States by IFC Films on May 31, 2024,[11] and is scheduled to debut on the Shudder streaming service later that year.[8][9]
Reception
Box office
IFC Films released In a Violent Nature in North America on May 31, 2024 on 1,426 screens, marking the widest opening release of a film for the studio.[12] It earned $410,000 in Thursday night previews.[12] It went on to gross $2.1 million at the North American box office during its opening weekend, marking the second-best opening for IFC Films after Late Night with the Devil.[12]
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 87% of 106 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.9/10. The website's consensus reads: "As single-mindedly focused on mayhem as its demonic monster, In a Violent Nature serves up a deliciously disgusting feast for gore aficionados."[13] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 69 out of 100, based on 19 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[14]
Variety's Dennis Harvey wrote that the film's "stripped-down approach to a familiar gist has a distinctiveness that is impressive, and is sure to please fans who are always up for a new slasher film—but wish most of them weren't so interchangeable."[7] Cheryl Eddy of Gizmodo called it "a fascinating artistic experiment and genre fans should definitely give it a look. But it may also make you wish you were watching a traditional slasher—for something more fun and entertaining, may we suggest Friday the 13th Part 2?—instead."[10]
Michael Gingold of Rue Morgue wrote that the film's style "isn't quite a reinvention of the form, but it creates a different and very effective kind of tension."[15] David Ehrlich of IndieWire gave the film a grade of "C", writing that the film "derives its semi-hypnotic power from the disconnect it creates between the sheer movieness of what happens and the somnambulant nonchalance with which it all goes down. The effect is interesting in theory, but largely unsatisfying in execution (pun very much intended)."[5]
References
- ^ "In a Violent Nature (18)". BBFC. May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ "In a Violent Nature". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on June 2, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
- ^ "In a Violent Nature (2024) — Financial Information". The Numbers. Archived from the original on June 2, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Gheciu, Alex Nino (January 22, 2024). "Sundance slasher In A Violent Nature puts northern Ontario front and centre". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Ehrlich, David (January 24, 2024). "'In a Violent Nature' Review: A Gory, High-Concept Slasher More Interesting in Theory Than in Execution". IndieWire. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
- ^ a b Earl, William (January 18, 2024). "How 'In a Violent Nature' Director Chris Nash Redefined Slashers With an Ultra-Gory Throwback That Evokes Terrence Malick". Variety. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
- ^ a b c Harvey, Dennis (January 22, 2024). "'In a Violent Nature' Review: A Fresh Canadian Spin on Slasher Conventions". Variety. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
- ^ a b Lang, Brent (December 6, 2023). "Shudder Lands Slasher Film 'In a Violent Nature' Ahead of Sundance Premiere (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
- ^ a b Squires, John (January 30, 2024). "'In a Violent Nature' – Watch the Teaser Trailer for Slasher Movie Shot from the Killer's Perspective". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on April 28, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ a b Eddy, Cheryl (January 23, 2024). "In a Violent Nature Turns the Slasher Genre on Its Head". Gizmodo. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
- ^ "See a slasher movie from the killer's POV in first trailer for 'In a Violent Nature'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ a b c D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 1, 2024). "'Garfield' & 'IF' Bully 'Furiosa' Into Third Place As Summer Box Office Recession Continues – Sunday AM Update". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 2, 2024.
- ^ "In a Violent Nature". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
- ^ "In a Violent Nature". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ Gingold, Michael (January 23, 2024). "Sundance '24 Movie Review: "In a Violent Nature" Takes a Different, Überbloody Look at a Forest Slasher". Rue Morgue. Retrieved January 24, 2024.