“In a Violent Nature,” one of the standout horror films from this year’s Sundance, takes a unique approach by presenting the slasher narrative through the perspective of its undead antagonist. With a gripping new trailer and accompanying images, audiences get a tantalizing glimpse into the gruesome mayhem that awaits.

IFC Films has set the exclusive theatrical release of “In a Violent Nature” for May 31, 2024, promising to immerse viewers in a chilling cinematic experience.

The film’s premise unfolds as a locket is disturbed from its resting place within a collapsed fire tower, awakening the vengeful spirit of Johnny, driven by a decades-old atrocity. His reanimated corpse is relentless in its pursuit to retrieve the locket, targeting a group of vacationing teens responsible for its disturbance. What ensues is a relentless and methodical slaughter as Johnny stops at nothing to reclaim what is rightfully his, leaving a trail of carnage in his wake.

Written and directed by Chris Nash, “In a Violent Nature” features a talented ensemble cast including Ry Barrett, Andrea Pavlovic, Cameron Love, Reece Presley, Liam Leone, Charlotte Creaghan, Lea Rose Sebastianis, Sam Roulston, Alexander Oliver, and Lauren Taylor.

Samuel Zimmerman, Shudder’s vice president of programming, expressed excitement about the film, stating, “In a Violent Nature is a tremendous new slasher. We’re thrilled for you to meet Johnny, whose reign of terror honors the iconic subgenre while taking audiences on a singular and brutal new journey within it. Chris Nash’s bold perspective represents the best of Shudder, marrying the genre’s traditions with its exhilarating next steps.”

Reflecting on the film’s screening at Sundance, the writer noted, “In a Violent Nature may offer slasher thrills and a delightfully gory rampage across the wilderness, but Nash’s approach captures the carnage through ambient realism. It results in a fascinating arthouse horror experiment that plays more like a minimalist slice-of-life feature with a grim twist.”