Dark Nature is a 2022 Canadian survival horror thriller film about two women who go to an isolated weekend retreat in the Rockies.
Written, co-produced and directed by Berkley Brady (Creepypasta: The Movie) based on a storyline co-written with Tim Cairo. Also produced by Michael Peterson. Executive produced by Kalani Dreimanis and Jason R Ellis.
The Nika Productions-Peterson Polaris production stars Hannah Emily Anderson, Roseanne Supernault, Kyra Harper, Madison Walsh, Daniel Arnold, Griffin Cork, Ivy Miller, Arjan Gill, Lisa Moreau and Helen Belay.
The film also features the first-ever movie score composed by Canadian and Metis art-rock band Ghostkeeper.
Plot:
Joy, a survivor of domestic violence, joins her friend Carmen and her therapy group on an isolated weekend retreat in the Canadian Rockies. Led by the enigmatic Doctor Dunnley – whose methods are experimental and, at times, dubious from Joy’s outside perspective – the experience eventually shatters the border between reality and delusion.
Joy begins to suspect that they are being stalked by her abuser when in truth, the entire group will be forced to confront a threat even more terrifying than the monsters of their past.
Blurb:
“An anxiety-inducing horror-thriller set and filmed in the vast Canadian Rockies almost entirely with practical FX and real stunts. With a predominantly female cast, the film intimately explores themes of trauma and friendship through its meaningful performances — while never shying away from bloody twists and scares.”
Reviews:
“The make-up effects are solid, sure, but the film laid the groundwork for a deeper exploration of healing via female friendships and therapy that ultimately fails to pay off. Is it cathartic finally getting to see Joy work out her issues in bloody fashion? Absolutely…but Dark Nature could have been so much more.” 3 out of 5, Bloody Disgusting
“Several horrific scenes lack energy and are not frightening enough. For their part, the actresses all deliver electrifying performances which give the film some very beautiful passages. In the end, Dark Nature is not as captivating as we would have liked but remains a rather interesting first work.” 3 out of 5, Horror Québec
“Overall, Dark Nature will get under your skin. It doesn’t shy away from its subject matter. In fact, it turns it over, dissects, and aims to open our eyes. While not entirely perfect, it highlights Brady’s promise as both a director and storyteller. And, in the film’s final act, there’s something that viewers should definitely take away regardless of how scary it might be.” Nightmarish Conjurings
“Illuminating its natural locations with ever more artificial, even psychedelic lighting, Dark Nature shifts gradually from realism towards creature feature – and even as the film ventures further into darkness and into a blood-spattered cavernous lair, it never loses sight of Joy’s similarly hidden interiority.” Projected Figures
“There’s a predictability in its horror that it can’t quite shake and an emotional current that it just can’t tread. Had it been given a little more time to bridge the two gaps, the two separate parts of Dark Nature might have coalesced into a neater package. What it leaves behind instead is a neat idea executed conventionally and poorly.” Tilt
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Release:
Dark Nature had its world premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival on July 18, 2022. Epic Pictures co-financed and are handling world sales under their Dread imprint.
Filming locations:
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
