In A Violent Nature 2 Review: A Sequel That Loses Its Edge

The first In A Violent Nature stood out by putting audiences directly behind the mask of the killer. It was a fresh, slow, and brutal take on the genre. Unfortunately, the sequel, which recently premiered at Fantastic Fest, leaves that creative hook behind. Director Nate Wilson and writer Chris Nash have moved to a traditional perspective, turning what was once a unique experiment into a very familiar camp slasher.

The story now follows a group of counselors and campers at the closing days of Camp Puddingstone. We primarily see the action through the eyes of Alex, a lonely camper played by Lucas Nguyen. While the film tries to build more narrative around these characters, the writing is too thin to make us care. It is often unclear if we are meant to root for these campers or if they are simply there to meet a bloody end.

While the film fails to capture the charm of its predecessor, it does succeed in one specific area. If you are here for creative, over the top kills, you will find plenty of them. Johnny returns with more intense gore and even some new lore regarding his origins. The murder scenes remain the only real reason to check this one out.

Ultimately, the sequel feels like a step backward. It loses the special atmosphere of the first movie and replaces it with standard horror tropes that we have seen done better many times before. Without a firm release date, fans of the first film might want to keep their expectations low, as this follow up struggles to justify its own existence.