While In A Violent Nature’s shocking deaths might be memorable, the movie’s stunning scenery is equally impressive thanks to its beautiful, secluded filming locations. 2024’s In A Violent Nature is a slasher movie with a unique perspective. In A Violent Nature’s deliberately paced story takes place from the killer’s point of view, following the undead, unspeaking masked killer Johnny as he walks through secluded woodlands and idyllic lakes. For long stretches of the movie’s runtime, In A Violent Nature feels like a calming nature walk. Then one of In A Violent Nature’s brutal kill scenes arrive.
Thanks to In A Violent Nature‘s Friday the 13th inspiration and debt to similar ‘80s slashers set in abandoned summer camps, the unusual horror movie does not stint when it comes to gore. In A Violent Nature includes some of the most shocking death scenes of 2024 amid its long scenes of tranquil hiking, and this unlikely contrast is what makes the slasher so original. By In A Violent Nature’s ending, viewers have spent as much time luxuriating in its isolated setting as they have watching Johnny dismember his victims thanks to its beautiful filming locations.
Kawartha Lakes
In A Violent Nature’s Production Began In The Kawartha Lakes Region
Originally, director Chris Nash intended to shoot In A Violent Nature in the Kawartha Lakes region of Ontario, Canada. The director admitted in a Variety interview that he wanted the movie’s setting to be just as remote and inaccessible as it appears in the movie, resulting in 30-minute hikes to reach the set. Eventually, Nash and company decided that the Kawartha Lakes weren’t providing the specific look they wanted for In A Violent Nature’s story. As a result, the production relocated to another picturesque, and equally untamed, region of Ontario to shoot the rest of the slasher.
Nash opted to go for a more familiar location when it came time to shoot the rest of the movie.
It is unclear whether any of the footage from the Kawartha Lakes region made it into In A Violent Nature’s final cut. However, what is clear is that Nash opted to go for a more familiar location when it came time to shoot the rest of the movie. In A Violent Nature ended up taking place close to home for the filmmaker.
Algoma District
In A Violent Nature’s Subversive Slasher Story Was Shot In This Ontario District
Most of In A Violent Nature was shot in the Algoma District of Ontario. Bordered by both Lake Superior and Lake Huron, the Algoma District famously inspired the iconic Canadian landscape artist the Group of Seven. It is easy to see why, as the forests of the region and its wide rivers give In A Violent Nature’s story some stunning vistas to explore. In A Violent Nature’s subversive slasher story wouldn’t work if the trails that Johnny traverses in silence weren’t as captivating as the movie’s gruesome kills. Thanks to the Algoma District’s natural beauty, this isn’t a problem.
While not all of Johnny’s story takes place outdoors, most of the movie’s most memorable scenes make use of the area’s stunning, sprawling woodlands. The cliff-side yoga kill features beautiful views of the region’s scenery shortly before Johnny’s nastiest attack occurs, while Brodie’s drowning takes place in one of the region’s many beautiful lakes. The discordance between the quiet, peaceful woodlands and the gory mayhem caused by Johnny makes the movie effective, resulting in Stephen King recommending In A Violent Nature to his followers on X (formerly Twitter) earlier in 2024.
Sault Ste. Marie
This Small Canadian Town Played Host To In A Violent Nature’s Production
While the Algoma District provided the primary locations of In A Violent Nature, the nearby city of Sault Ste. Marie was also a major player in the movie’s production. Nash hails from the midsized city, according to an interview with The Globe and Mail, and Sault Ste. Marie is the nearest city to the expansive nature parks where the majority of In A Violent Nature was filmed. As Nash noted, the movie’s locations were often so remote that even reaching the set required a hike. As such, the director’s hometown offered a base of operations for In A Violent Nature’s production.
In A Violent Nature
is available to stream on Shudder.
With a population of over 70,000, Sault Ste. Marie includes many tourist attractions. In A Violent Nature highlights the extensive forest trails that surround the city, and it would be no surprise if the indie horror movie brought more visitors to the Ontario city thanks to the stunning scenery found in the film. The Algoma District is home to most of these locations, while Sault Ste. Marie’ is a perfect base. That said, it also wouldn’t be surprising if In A Violent Nature left viewers too scared to explore the woods of Ontario on their own, lest they stumble across Johnny’s latest kill.
Source: Variety
