In a Violent Nature: Part 2 Fantastic Fest Review: Slasher Sequel Has Cool Kills, Not Much Else

Two years ago, the independent horror film In a Violent Nature became an unlikely hit in the horror community thanks to its unique take on the slasher genre and impressive practical effects. A sequel was quickly greenlit, and until the secret screening at this year’s Fantastic Fest began, no one knew that the film was completed. Unfortunately, In a Violent Nature: Part 2 does not live up to the high bar set by its predecessor, offering enough cool kills to stay afloat despite sacrificing the unique identity that made the original film so effective.

What is In a Violent Nature: Part 2 about?

It seems like Chris Nash (and his co-director, Nate Wilson, who was 1st AD on the previous film) took the wrong lesson from the reception of In a Violent Nature. Instead of making something for the fans who enjoyed the first film, they seem to have made something pandering to those who did not, turning the sequel into the exact thing that it was designed to deconstruct. 

Indeed, whereas the first In a Violent Nature was told from the perspective of the killer, Part 2 follows a teenage boy who is left behind at a summer camp. In other words, it turns into a basic summer camp slasher — just with a tremendously slow pace. Most of what made horror fans love the original is gone in favor of something more traditional and conventional.

In a Violent Nature: Part 2 Review

That being said, In a Violent Nature: Part 2 does remain worth watching thanks to its creative and gnarly kills. Thankfully, Nash and co. did not abandon the practical-first approach of the first film, and they are committed to (at least trying to) one-up themselves, delivering plenty of kills that will delight horror fans and make them squirm. Although nothing quite matches the level of the yoga kill, there are still plenty of moments that people will be talking about for a long time.

The cinematography of the sequel is also just as strong as it was the first time around. The tight aspect ratio makes things look and feel more artistic than your average horror flick, but also creates a sense of claustrophobia and unease that compensates for the slower pace of the film. And as before, the film does a great job of capturing the natural beauty of the locations in stark juxtaposition to the gruesome brutality happening in the action.

Although In a Violent Nature: Part 2 is pretty definitively a step down from the original, the make-or-break factor on whether someone will find this entry somewhat enjoyable or deeply annoying is their opinion of the characters. While the victims of the first film were purposefully underdeveloped because the audience wasn’t seeing the film from their perspective, we are meant to care about the characters in Part 2.

The film’s protagonist, played by young actor Lucas Nguyen, feels destined to be incredibly divisive. On the one hand, he’s a very basic summer camp teen, and he makes some annoyingly stupid decisions that would make it understandable for anyone to grow disillusioned with him. However, there are some things about the character that make him feel relatable enough to make him a mostly compelling horror protagonist.

Is In a Violent Nature: Part 2 worth watching?

It’s hard to tell who will truly enjoy In a Violent Nature: Part 2. Fans of the first film will be disappointed by the fact that this one has a much more conventional story, while those who were put off by the original’s slow pace will find that this one is nearly glacial. Those who are merely looking to see some impressive practical effects-driven kills will be satisfied, but there are plenty of better, more entertaining horror films to scratch that itch.

In a Violent Nature: Part 2 premiered at the 2026 edition of Fantastic Fest, which runs September 17-24 in Austin, TX.

In a Violent Nature: Part 2 Fantastic Fest Review: Slasher Sequel Has Cool Kills, Not Much Else