Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: IN A VIOLENT NATURE PART II (Secret Screening #1) [Fantastic Fest - Austin, Texas]
When the original "In A Violent Nature" played a Midnight Slot at Sundance it was a rhythmatic powerhouse because of its silence and its brutality. It was something new and the killings so brutal. It was because it worked down to such bare bones that it works while style making its own style. There was spare dialogue and it was all the woods. It was like "Predator" but where the creature found its mask. As it moves towards the end of the first movie and then the gray monologue, it undid the entire thing without losing its power. In that way, it seemed like a great one and done. But making a second one, even though it makes sense, dilutes the entire thing. It plays to Friday the 13th which of course the original did as well. But the rhythm is off. Granted this screening was a work print so many things can still be adjusted (but the kills seem all there). Part II turns into a teen slasher movie in a way and feels less mythic. The kills are still ratcheted out of control but they don't have the power of the last one. Granted again this was a rough cut so this could change but the power is less because it is about seeing how much further it can go.
One kill inside what seems like a cabin reminds one of the wood chipper scene in the first one. This one because of its brutality and how it continues on is out of control whereas ones in a gymnasium and then on a boat dock are conceptually sharp but again did not carry the same power. Granted it might just be being sensitized to the actual concept now but sometimes just doing more because it can be done defeats the purpose. As we see the progression the timeline merges in a way with what we saw before. In that way it starts to feel like "Resident Evil" (the old school ones) but without a solid aftermath of what the main character (here a younger camper) can do against this killer. The reason for sparing certain people makes sense because the killer is very methodic. It takes a sense of creativity to do what we does. What the film does do, it seems, unless I missed something, is that it also show the kills that happened off screen as if the mayhem this killer is creating is multiplying which is a scary thought. However the build on this one seemed less impactful or impressive, not in the kills, but in the context of the dread. It felt more campy weirdly enough here. This could have been by design because there were camp elements in the first one. It just has a difference cadence to it. 77%/C+
By Tim Wassberg
