10 Recent Horror Movies That Hooked You Instantly

9. In A Violent Nature

Don't Move
Shudder

It's ironic how In A Violent Nature serves as a homage to classic slashers, considering it rewrites the rules of the genre.

In the first scene, a group of hikers enters a rusted fire tower, where they discover a strange locket. After one of the group picks it up, a rotted corpse, Johnny, slowly emerges from the ground and starts lumbering towards the hikers.

The setup is pretty standard for a slasher, but the way it's executed is anything but conventional. There's no dramatic music or frantic editing to accompany Johnny's resurrection. Even though this would be the perfect opportunity to throw in a jump-scare, Johnny's appearance is gradual and undramatic.

Although this reveal should be anticlimactic, it totally works. Using this method, Johnny comes across less like a serial killer and more like a predator who's prepping for his daily hunt. With the action fixated on him with unbroken, documentary-style camera work, we're forced to watch Johnny every step of the way, getting a front row seat to the inevitable bloodbath.

As such, viewers are sure to be left unnerved, even before the massacre begins.

Contributor

James Egan has been with Whatculture for five years and prominently works on Horror, Film, and Video Games. He's written over 80 books including 1000 Facts about Horror Movies Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about The Greatest Films Ever Made Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about Video Games Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts About James Bond 1000 Facts About TV Shows