If you asked every attendee to guess the first “Secret Screening” of this year’s Fantastic Fest, I don’t think any of them would have wagered it was In A Violent Nature 2. The Independent Film Company and Shudder original doesn’t even have a release date–and many assumed that the film wasn’t even finished yet. And to be fair to those people, what the midnight audience saw last night was a “work-in-progress cut of the locked picture,” albeit one that seemed quite final to this reviewer’s eyes.
In a Violent Nature: Part 2, as the title card dubs it, picks up right where the 2024 original left off: Johnny has his precious gold locket back, and he's still deliberately moving through the carnage of the first movie. But that’s where the sequel takes a bit of a turn: we’re now at Camp Puddingstone and playing in a pretty familiar slasher territory of young adult counselors in peril. And unlike the first film, Johnny isn't our POV for most of the sequel’s runtime.
The camp counselors have one final night to let off some steam now that the campers have gone home to their families. Well, all but one camper: 14-year-old Alex was abandoned at camp after his bullies antagonized him into missing the bus ride out, and he becomes the film's new protagonist. Played by relative newcomer Lucas Nguyen, Alex is a very realistic representation of a moody fourteen-year-old boy–coming from someone who used to be a moody fourteen-year-old boy.
Whether it is his awkward gait running through the forest (a stark comparison to Johnny’s measured walk), his obsession with the blonde Russian lifeguard Olga, or his overprotective older sister who is also a camp counselor, Alex is dealing with a lot. And that’s before you add in the masked psycho killer on his trail.
Ironically called “Big Man” by his bullies, Alex was left behind at a closed Puddingstone–the last camper surrounded by his older, cooler, louder counselors. He is a bit of an outcast, sullen and unhelpful. And because this one doesn’t follow Johnny’s steps as closely as the first installment, Alex serves as a bit of a proto-Tommy Jarvis in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter. Nguyen does a great job portraying the role as written, but makes frustrating choice after frustrating choice, which can definitely drag when the film is so deliberately slow. Just stab him already, Alex!
In A Violent Nature 2 also introduces a new “origin story” for our masked killer: if you blow a fireman’s whistle three times in the middle of the woods, you’ll summon Johnny. He will seek revenge on your enemies for you, but like the monkey’s paw, he will then kill you last. Whether or not this lore plays out as described is something audiences will have to see for themselves. I like that Johnny is a real boogeyman–his story is different every time you hear about him–but the danger is nevertheless very real. Chris Nash returned to write the screenplay, and continues to add more “lore” and worldbuilding to the Violent Natureverse.
Pivoting to a camp setting really fleshes out this world, making the Friday the 13th comparisons even more apt and giving the filmmakers a familiar lens to work in. But the kills are much more brutal than its predecessor (if you can believe it), with a real focus on some gnarly practical effects, edging ever closer to Terrifier territory. The visuals remain rich and lush, with the original film's “artsy” nature carrying over to the sequel. The sound design was also a standout when watching it in the theater: every squelch and every step was very pronounced and cringe-inducing.
The quiet nature of the film allows for its kills and scares to really punctuate the picture. It may not win over anyone who didn’t love the first installment, but it definitely expands Johnny’s domain as we approach a potential Part 3. The real question left is: when will Johnny go to space?
In a Violent Nature 2 is slated to hit theaters sometime in 2026, though IFC Films and Shudder have not yet announced an exact release date.
