One of the year’s most divisive slasher movies is now available to rent at home. Chris Nash’s In a Violent Nature, which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, arrived on demand last week after a brief theatrical bout courtesy of IFC Films. While the film is poised to hit Shudder later this year, if you missed it before, you can now rent it at home and see what the buzziest slasher of the year is all about.
Per Prime Video: The enigmatic resurrection, rampage, and retribution of an undead monster in a remote wilderness unleashes an iconic new killer.
In our 4.5 star review out of this year’s Sundance Film Festival, we wrote, “In a Violent Nature is a consummate throwback slasher while being a clever meditation on fear and violence, replete with gory practical kills and an innovative pace and perspective.” I didn’t land quite as high personally, but I still found In a Violent Nature to be an earnest, artfully crafted homage to not just eighties slasher movies, but the leanest, meanest of the bunch. If you liked Ruggero Deodato’s Body Count, odds are, you’ll like In a Violent Nature.
Yet, if you’ve ever watched (or even liked) a movie ever, you’ll know that the conversation around In a Violent Nature isn’t that simple. The film has been at the center of online discourse since its arrival on demand, with some heralding it as the best slasher in years while others have unfavorably compared it to The Lord of the Rings of all things.
Check out some choice reactions below:
In a Violent Nature isn’t trying to be New Jason. It’s literally just “What if [generic backwoods slasher] was an arthouse film told through the hulking immortal killer’s perspective, leaving you to contemplate the sadness of his eternal doom?”
Just say you didn’t get it! pic.twitter.com/jYn4pxlI71
— Dallas Jones (@deathbydialogue) July 2, 2024
IN A VIOLENT NATURE is out on VOD now. I’ve seen a lot of insane discourse about recently. I love it precisely because it deliberately withholds the expected payoff. I talked to director Chris Nash for @latimes. Link in the first comment. pic.twitter.com/6UcmBz3itW
— Carlos Aguilar (@Carlos_Film) July 6, 2024
In a Violent Nature was interesting. I didn’t love it but I admired it’s uniqueness. For me, the film kept such a distance from the characters that I never felt invested. The distance and slow pacing were effective at times, and detracted at other times. But I liked the ending! https://t.co/YCAyMOskQ0
— Nasha (@Nasha_Foster) July 5, 2024
I’ve seen some vitriolic hate directed towards In a Violent Nature (2024), when by my perception, it’s what we want from scrappy horror movies. It boldly takes risks and doesn’t play by traditional rules. Isn’t this what we want? Even if you’re not a fan, it’s a big swing. pic.twitter.com/HxaiPzhW51
— Rolo Tony (@PoorOldRoloTony) July 3, 2024
Leave it to my fellow Canadians to reinvent the slasher genre. In A Violent Nature is a deviceful, grisly trip back into the woods. There’s some beautifully cruel Fulci-level shots here. Might be my favourite movie of the year so far. pic.twitter.com/Hl8Aelided
— Gary Pullin (@GhoulishGary) June 28, 2024
holy shit!
IN A VIOLENT NATURE is a stripped down, bare boned, pov slasher beamed straight out of the 80’s that fucks hard…
the KILL everyone’s talking about is insane and an absolute all-timer…
director Chris Nash’s unique take on the horror genre is one of the year’s best. pic.twitter.com/JCD9HqduXc— Jayson (@rangerjayfilm) June 3, 2024
wonder how much of the negative reaction to this movie is stemming from an unwillingness to engage with the form rather than merely short attention spans https://t.co/wl3eeJ3Hyo
— sage (@spherection) July 1, 2024
I enjoyed In A Violent Nature, but comments as these feel like “It’s bad on purpose, so that makes it good. You just don’t get it!”
Nah. Repeated long shots of the villain just walking, no matter the reason, can easily be boring and frustrating for many viewers, form be damned. https://t.co/f5v1ggfa7w— David Riedel (@AddisonBosler) July 1, 2024
If you catch it and want more recommendations, I’ve got a list here of ten more movies like In a Violent Nature you can stream for free. Either way, let me know what you think on Twitter @Chadiscollins. Did you like In a Violent Nature? Hate it? Reasonably fall somewhere in the middle? I want to hear from you.
Categorized:News
