Johnny Walks Into the Second Class Tier
Creating a new slasher icon in the 2020s should be one of the hardest jobs in horror. The genre has spent decades introducing audiences to unforgettable killers, many of whom have become so deeply embedded in popular culture that even people who have never watched a horror film know exactly who they are. Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger, Leatherface and Ghostface have dominated the landscape for years, leaving very little room for newcomers to squeeze their way into the conversation. Yet in 2024, In A Violent Nature managed to do exactly that. Against all odds, Johnny emerged from the Canadian wilderness and instantly became one of the most talked-about slasher villains of the modern era.
At first glance, Johnny appears to follow a familiar blueprint. He is a hulking undead killer with a tragic backstory, incredible strength and an unhealthy obsession with revenge. Decades before the events of the film, Johnny was killed following a cruel prank, his body eventually buried alongside a gold locket that held great personal significance. When a group of young people stumble across the abandoned fire tower where the locket rests and decide it would look better in somebody else’s pocket, they unknowingly awaken a force of nature. As horror fans know all too well, stealing mysterious objects from abandoned locations is rarely a sensible hobby. Johnny rises from his grave determined to reclaim what was taken, and anyone unfortunate enough to stand in his way quickly discovers that he is not interested in discussing the matter calmly.
What separates Johnny from almost every other slasher villain is the way the audience experiences his story. Rather than focusing on terrified victims hiding in cabins and making questionable survival decisions, writer and director Chris Nash places the camera behind Johnny himself. For much of the film, viewers simply accompany him on his journey through the wilderness. We watch him cross rivers, navigate forests, climb hills and wander through enough countryside to make an experienced rambling enthusiast question whether they have packed suitable footwear. It is a concept that sounds absurd when explained to someone who has not seen the film. In practice, however, it becomes strangely hypnotic. Before long, you find yourself completely invested in the progress of a murderous undead man taking what appears to be the world’s angriest nature walk.
One of the funniest things about Johnny is the sheer effort he puts into his revenge. Most slasher villains seem capable of teleportation. Jason can appear on one side of Crystal Lake and then magically materialise behind a victim moments later. Michael Myers often covers impossible distances without anybody noticing. Johnny, meanwhile, appears to operate under a strict policy of walking absolutely everywhere. There are moments during In A Violent Nature where you cannot help but admire his commitment. The man spends half the film trekking through dense woodland simply because somebody pinched his necklace. Most people would leave a passive-aggressive Facebook status. Johnny embarks on a cross-country expedition fuelled entirely by rage. You almost start wondering whether he should be sponsored by a hiking boot manufacturer.
Thankfully, all that travelling eventually leads to what horror fans came to see: the kills. And this is where Johnny truly shines. In A Violent Nature quickly developed a reputation for its practical effects work, delivering a collection of brutal, inventive and deeply unpleasant deaths that immediately captured the attention of genre audiences. While many modern horror films rely heavily on quick editing and CGI enhancements, Johnny’s kills feel physical, painful and alarmingly real. Every broken bone and torn limb is presented with enough detail to make audiences squirm while simultaneously admiring the craftsmanship involved. It is the sort of practical effects showcase that horror fans love celebrating, and it helped elevate the film from an interesting experiment into one of the most memorable slashers of the decade.
Of course, no discussion of Johnny would be complete without mentioning the yoga scene. By now, the sequence has achieved almost mythical status among horror fans. Even people who have not seen the film are aware that there is a particular kill involving a cliffside, a yoga enthusiast and an outcome that can only be described as spectacularly unfortunate. Without spoiling the specifics, the scene instantly entered the pantheon of all-time great horror kills. It is shocking, outrageous, creative and executed with such confidence that audiences could do little more than stare at the screen in disbelief. The fact that one sequence generated so much discussion speaks volumes about Johnny’s impact. Horror fans are constantly searching for moments they have never seen before, and Johnny delivered one that nobody is likely to forget.
His success also arrives at an important moment for the genre. For years, horror fans have debated whether modern cinema could still produce genuinely iconic slashers. Too often, new villains appear for a single film before fading into obscurity. Johnny felt different from the start. His appearance is instantly recognisable, with his weathered clothing, decaying features and rusted hook weapon creating a silhouette that feels both classic and original. Ry Barrett’s physical performance adds further weight to the character, giving Johnny a relentless presence that dominates every scene despite barely speaking a word. He never feels like somebody trying to imitate the great slashers of the past. Instead, he feels like a worthy successor to them.
The good news for fans is that Johnny’s story is far from over. In A Violent Nature 2 is scheduled to arrive in 2026, with Barrett returning to the role. Early information suggests the sequel will move the action to a summer camp setting, a location so closely associated with slasher cinema that Jason Voorhees is probably already consulting his lawyers. The prospect of Johnny bringing his unique brand of carnage to one of horror’s most iconic settings has only increased anticipation for the sequel, and many fans are eager to see whether he can continue his impressive rise through the ranks of modern horror villains.
So why does Johnny belong in the Second Class Tier of the Hall of Killers? The answer is simple. While he has not yet enjoyed the decades of cultural impact accumulated by horror’s most legendary figures, he has already accomplished something remarkable. He became the face of one of the most talked-about horror films of the 2020s, delivered genuinely iconic kills and introduced a fresh perspective to a genre that many believed had run out of new ideas. More importantly, he achieved something that countless modern horror villains fail to do. He made audiences care. Horror fans are already discussing him alongside far more established icons, and with another film on the horizon, there is every chance his reputation will continue to grow.
For now, Johnny comfortably earns his place in the Second Class Tier. After all, not every killer can become a horror icon through little more than determination, brutality and an apparent willingness to walk several hundred miles through the Canadian wilderness over the loss of a single piece of jewellery.
