Johnny's Back: "In a Violent Nature" Sequel Announced

The bloodthirsty killer, Johnny, from the critically acclaimed horror film "In a Violent Nature," is set to return for a sequel. IFC Films and Shudder, the streaming platform known for its horror offerings, announced the news at the "The Bold Voice of Contemporary Horror" panel during San Diego Comic-Con.

"In a Violent Nature" follows the brutal journey of Johnny, a slasher icon reminiscent of figures like Jason Voorhees from the "Friday the 13th" series. The film offers a unique perspective, placing viewers directly behind Johnny as he stalks through the woods, seeking his next victims.

The film, released in May, has garnered immense success, becoming one of IFC Films' top 10 highest-grossing movies of all time. It's still playing in theaters and available on VOD, and will begin streaming on Shudder on September 13th. "In a Violent Nature" currently stands as one of Variety's top horror movies of 2024.

The sequel will see the return of Chris Nash, writer and director of the first film, as screenwriter. Peter Kuplowsky and Shannon Hanmer will serve as producers. Emily Gotto, Nicholas Lazo, and Samuel Zimmerman of Shudder will oversee development.

"‘In a Violent Nature’ demonstrated that there continues to be a yearning for new perspectives in the horror landscape," said Scott Shooman, head of AMC Networks' film group, in a statement. "We knew immediately that this distinctive take on the slasher would enthrall fans and are glad to see the community embrace a new slasher icon in Johnny. With the sequel, we aim to prove that Johnny can be bigger, meaner, and his kills can only get more impressive.”

Kuplowsky added, "‘In a Violent Nature’ was originally conceived as a meta-sequel within a fictional slasher series, so we were always imagining mayhem beyond the scope of the original film. That we now have the opportunity to continue following Johnny on his restless walk has us feeling incredibly grateful to our incredible partners at IFC Films / Shudder who believed in Chris’ vision from day one. We are thrilled to return for a new chapter and are excited to deploy Johnny as a conduit to further experiments in the genre.”

The sequel promises more blood, more mayhem, and more innovative twists on the slasher genre. Horror fans can expect a new chapter in the story of Johnny, a killer whose reign of terror is far from over.