‘In A Violent Nature’, out in UK cinemas today, on 12 July, has generated a lot of buzz from horror fans, and actor Cameron Love said that filming it was “a blast”. The film is shot almost entirely from the perspective of the killer (a resurrected vengeful spirit) and Cameron plays a camper in the woods who sees his friends being killed off one by one. ‘In A Violent Nature’ received a rapturous reception at its premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Variety has listed it as the #1 horror film of 2024 so far, and Stephen King tweeted a recommendation of the movie on X, saying: “When the blood flows, it flows in buckets.” The film has played in multiple festivals across the United States including the Overlook Film Festival and Chicago Critics Film Festival, culminating in a 1,400-cinema release across North America. We talk to Cameron about the joys of filming a slasher flick…
What was it like making ‘In a Violent Nature’?
“It’s a lot of fun making a horror movie – I had a blast working on this project! When director Chris Nash told me it was a slasher film shot almost entirely from the killer’s perspective, I was immediately onboard with the idea. It was such a fresh and unique twist on the genre and couldn’t believe it hadn’t really been done before at feature length. This was also my first feature film and the fact that it was an artsy, experimental slasher film and it went to Sundance is a pretty good start, wouldn’t you say?”
How did the gory effects work?
“All of the effects in the movie are practical and it was really great working with Steven Kostanski (director of ‘Psycho Goreman’ and ‘The Void’). He created life-size replicas of the cast – seeing the dummies getting brutally mangled in the craziest ways you can think of was wild! Pierce Derks, our cinematographer, captured beautiful shots of the North Ontario wilderness, and that, juxtaposed with the moments of extreme violence, made for a truly mesmerising combination.”
What were the highs and lows of the shoot?
“It wasn’t all smooth sailing throughout the filming process. Since most of the movie was shot outside, we were at the mercy of the weather many nights, and a few other setbacks halted production for a couple of months. But that gave Chris and his team plenty of time to iron out any problems and come back with a stronger game plan. The results were worth it, because that first audience at Sundance was electric! I’ll never forget the enthusiasm and energy of a sold-out crowd, cheering at the kills and laughing at the jokes and just having a good time watching a slasher movie. It’s a fun movie to watch with a group of people and I think horror fans in particular are sure to get a kick out of this film.”
Tell us about your character, Colt?
“Colt is reclusive after suffering a family tragedy. He was invited on this weekend camping trip to help get his mind off his personal issues. But once he finds his friends are being killed off one by one by an undead monster, Colt has to set his doubts and grief aside and rise to the occasion to save the friends he has left.”
How does it feel to play one of the lead roles in a movie?
“It feels incredible! I’ve done years of on-camera training, working on commercials, short films and episodic television shows, so segueing onto a feature film felt like second nature to me. Chris gave the cast plenty of opportunities to improvise and bounce ideas around and it felt like a true collaboration.”
What’s next for you?
“You can catch me on the ShortMax TV app this summer for an upcoming soap opera, and that’s just the beginning…”
