Shudder has long been the premier streaming destination for horror movies, not only giving fans the return of Joe Bob Briggs with The Last Drive-In, but also making sure that classic titles are readily available on the platform after years of being hard to find. The streamer also has a knack for delivering some of the most unique original horror films of the past few years, giving us films like the COVID-centric haunt Host, the horrifying When Evil Lurks, and even the revival of the V/H/S franchise. Not only is Shudder keeping old school horror alive, but it’s reinventing it.
One of the most unique films to come out of Shudder arrived two years ago, when the streaming service and IFC debuted In a Violent Nature, a new take on the slasher film that quite literally put the audience in the killer’s shoes. Shot entirely from the perspective of the hatchet and hook-wielding Johnny as he lumbers his way around a former campsite and stalks the teens that are using it as a weekend getaway, In a Violent Nature was a big hit upon release. In true slasher movie fashion, the film is getting a sequel, and the first look is here with an official teaser trailer.
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In a Violent Nature 2 Trailer Reinvents the Series
Hailing from IGN Fan Fest, the first trailer for In a Violent Nature 2 confirms that changes are coming to the franchise. Though the entire first film was built around the concept of following the killer as he stalked his victims and even brutally murdered them, the upcoming sequel appears primed to change perspectives. Not only will In a Violent Nature 2 follow Johnny as he slices his way through camp counselors, but it will ground itself in the POV of some of the victims, too.
This is clear from a few different shots of the teaser trailer, but it becomes obvious as a character looks directly down the lens and at us as if we’re the ones being spoken to. There are also shots of Johnny attacking that begin in different rooms from where he’s standing, indicating the shift in perspective is a key part of the film this time. In a Violent Nature was noteworthy for how it upended the tropes of the genre and forced us to look at horror movie structure, and it seems they’ve found a new way to do that with the sequel.
One of the biggest question marks about In a Violent Nature 2 is if it will be an actual sequel to the first film or perhaps be set earlier in the timeline of Johnny. The first film in the series dropped subtle hints through some interactions and details that indicated that the legend of Johnny was a decades-old story in the area, implying that the events seen in the film could very easily be the equivalent of the fourth film in a slasher series. As a result, will the new movie pick up from the previous film or be set even earlier in his world of dead teenagers? Time will tell, but the screams are set to echo across the lake once again.
In a Violent Nature 2 will be directed by Nathaniel Wilson, but is written once again by series creator Chris Nash and will see Ry Barrett return as Johnny. No official release date has been confirmed for the film, but a trailer arriving this early in the year could indicate a 2026 premiere isn’t too far away.