A staple of the movies year-round is the horror movie. We see all kinds of different films in the horror genre being released. They are cost-effective, draw audiences, and come in many different styles. That’s certainly the case for In A Violent Nature, which releases wide this Friday.

The film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January and was picked up by Shudder. It will make a theatrical run starting Friday, and it certainly offers something different, including some of the grisliest violence I’ve seen.

The film is set in the Canadian woods. We follow a disfigured, lone figure in the woods. We see much of the film from his perspective as he wanders the area, dispatching those he finds. That soon includes a group of young people trying to enjoy a break from life in the woods. As our figure approaches, we hear them telling stories by the campfire.

One of those stories is about Johnny (Ry Barrett), a young man who was brutally attacked and soon, became a brutal hunter, dispatching scores of people in the area over the years. It’s clear, Johnny is our tortured figure in the woods. And he’s ready to continue his mission.

Over the course of the film, we see him hunt. We learn more about his history and motives, but really, it’s about the hunt, and how it’s going to end.

This film comes from writer/director Chris Nash. It feels like a throwback to the early days of the slasher genre when we had these supernatural killing machines just hunting and seemingly unstoppable. In some ways, Johnny reminded me of Michael Myers and Jason Voorhies. But this is a different kind of style.

One of the things that stood out to me was the way the film was put together. By choice, it features no musical score. It also mostly follows Johnny, seeing and embracing the world from his point-of-view. That gives the film, at times, the serene feel of a nature walk. Then, we get some of the most savage violent sequences I’ve ever seen.

The violence here is striking. There are some gruesome kills that hit even harder thanks to the rest of the way the film is constructed. It felt like something unique that will likely appeal to horror fans.

That being said, the film is exceedingly violent, meaning it won’t appeal to everyone. Additionally, the ending, which I found creative and fascinating, might be something of a letdown for some who are hoping for a big, climactic sequence.

In the end, I thought this was a clever and engaging new spin on a well-trod genre. For those who are slasher fans, this will be worth seeking out in theaters.

In A Violent Nature is in theaters starting Friday, May 31.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.