ONTARIO, CANADA – In his gory debut feature film, writer-director Chris Nash takes a unique approach to the familiar cabin-in-the-woods horror genre. “In a Violent Mind” diverges from traditional storytelling and delves into the mind of an Unstoppable Killing Machine. Premiering at Sundance’s Midnight section and soon to be available for streaming on the Shudder Original platform, this Canadian indie film captivates viewers with its minimalist and unsettling style.
The movie opens with off-camera hikers exploring the remains of a forest fire tower in what initially appears to be a Blair Witch-style setting. After one of them pockets a necklace found at the site, a malevolent figure emerges from the ground and heads towards a nearby dilapidated house. This entity, revealed to have once lived in the house, encounters a local poacher with disastrous consequences.
While the first kill is not explicit, the film quickly descends into a blood-soaked spectacle. The Unstoppable Killing Machine is drawn to a campfire outside a cabin, where seven young adults are staying. They are introduced to the local legend of the “White Pine Massacre,” which involved the previous death of a mentally hindered boy and the subsequent mysterious slaughter of the lumberjacks responsible. As the mute and relentless killer wreaks havoc, the victims, mainly seen through the perspective of the undead killer, become aware that something is gravely amiss.
Nash’s film distinguishes itself by immersing the audience in the killer’s point of view. The victims, often portrayed as petulant and argumentative, lack depth as they face lethal peril. The narrative primarily unfolds off-screen, heightening the tension and leaving the viewer unsettled. Only a passing Good Samaritan, portrayed by Lauren Taylor, provides a prolonged verbal interlude, risking a dissipation of the eerie atmospherics.
The cinematography by DP Pierce Derks showcases the majestic yet foreboding landscape of northern Ontario. With a square aspect ratio and a variety of visual techniques, the film avoids the stylistic pitfalls of found footage horror. The absence of an original score accentuates the tension, allowing the viewer to fully immerse themselves in the suspense.
While “In a Violent Mind” may not be the scariest or most complex horror film, its stripped-down approach offers a fresh take on the slasher genre. By deviating from traditional storytelling and focusing on the killer’s perspective, Nash creates a distinctive experience that is sure to please horror fans tired of interchangeable films.
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