Outline
Dark Nature is a Canadian film released in 2022, a psychological horror film revolving on a woman who is escaping a toxic relationship. The film’s exploration of trauma, healing, and psychological survival is particularly disturbing, as it involves a combination of supernatural horror and emotional depth. Berkley Brady directed this movie, and it seems to be less fictional and more rooted in real-life contemporary issues.
The plot of the movie begins with a woman, Joy, who is in a violent relationship with her boyfriend, Dereck. Following a near-death experience in which Joy is almost strangled to death, her boyfriend Derek tries to kill her. Joy escapes, but this comes at the price of her beloved dog being murdered. After about six months, Joy, who is still deeply traumatized and emotionally scarred, is invited by her best friend Carmen to attend a therapy retreat in the wilderness.
The retreat is headed by the enigmatic Dr. Carol Dunnley, who brings together a small group of women with different issues. Along with Joy and Carmen are Tara, who is silent and seems to be lost in her own thoughts, and Shaina, a war veteran suffering from PTSD. The group sets off into the wilderness with the hope of confronting their trauma.
But as the group continues into the forest, the mind’s landscape starts to resemble the actual one – thick, bewildering, and perilous. Joy starts to hallucinate distressing and disturbing visions of Derek shouting her name, and a monstrous being that stalks them is constantly haunting her vision.
Emotional breakdowns begin to occur as the women’s traumatic experiences start surfacing. Exercises focused on building trust, as instructed by Dr. Dunnley, are met with defiance. Reality starts to blend with hallucinations, and blurred lines spiral into havoc. When Tara goes missing, the rest of the group spirals into chaos. Missing supplies, a deadly game with the remaining women, and disorder unfolds one by one.
The remaining women side with Joy and search for Tara, leading them to a cave system where Joy is. Carmen attempts to rescue Dr. Dunnley, but gets viciously attacked and seemingly killed by the monster. As a bizarre act of bravery, Joy and Carmen are given the chance to escape when Tara buys time during her selfless act.
With no other option and confronting her past, Joy goes back to the cave to save Carmen. In the last encounter, Joy views the monster as Derek, her unresolved trauma’s manifestation. She embraces it, not out of affection, but as a means to annihilate it. Ultimately, Joy stabs the creature and sets it ablaze with Derek’s lighter. In the last scene, Joy and Carmen, step towards civilization, physically hurt but emotionally awakened.
Cast & Crew
Director & Writer: Berkley Brady
This is Brady’s first feature film, and in it, she uses the horror genre to delve into emotionally traumatic experiences, PTSD, and the complexities of female relationships.
Cinematography: Jaryl Lim
Some of the film’s rugged backcountry Alberta locations, such as the Canyon Creek Ice Cave, served as the film’s natural setting. The setting contributes greatly to the overall atmosphere of the film.
Editing: David Hiatt
The film is paced well, maintaining focus on the plot, and with the suspense building in a well-structured manner. The film is tightly edited, and the pacing of the film’s 85-minute runtime is masterfully maintained.
Main Cast
Hannah Emily Anderson as Joy – The emotional heart of the narrative, Joy is a trauma survivor.
Madison Walsh as Carmen – Joy’s fiercely loyal and unyielding friend.
Kyra Harper as Dr. Carol Dunnley – Retraite, as the therapist in charge of the retreat, her techniques and reasoning become more and more hazy as the story develops.
Helen Belay as Tara – Quiet and suffering in silence, Tara’s story is revealed gradually.
Roseanne Supernault as Shaina – A veteran struggling from the psychological effects of combat.
Daniel Arnold as Derek – Abusive ex of Joy, whose shadowy presence is still felt long after the relationship.
Production & Release
Dark Nature was shot in the remote mountains of Alberta in Canada during the fall of 2021. The harsh and often treacherous setting, which included sightings of real grizzly bears, added an extra layer of authenticity to the film’s wilderness survival elements.
The film was first shown at the Fantasia International Film Festival in 2022 and from there showed in other festivals around the world. It was released theatrically in North America on May 19, 2023 and digitally on May 23, 2023. It was released by Epic Pictures under their horror Dread label.
IMDb Ratings & Reviews
Dark Nature has a rating of 4.4 out of 10 on IMDb, and the consensus of audience review was leaning toward a negative perception. While the general audience had mixed to negative feedback, festival-goers and horror critics had a more favorable and nuanced view of the film.
The film has an average rating of 71% on Rotten Tomatoes. While some viewed it as a psychological nightmare, others appreciated the uniqueness of the film’s voice, provided it was executed better.
Critical Highlights:
While we at Bloody Disgusting appreciated the film’s striking imagery and distinctive motifs, we gave it a lukewarm review as it didn’t explore the characters as deeply as we hoped.
Rue Morgue called it Berkley Brady’s “vital debut,” praising the film’s emotional resonance and the use of horror as a lens into real psychological themes.
The Alliance of Women Film Journalists has noted the film’s short duration and the performance-focused storytelling favorably, even though some of the character arcs felt incomplete.
Dark Nature was also on the long list for the Jean-Marc Vallée DGC Discovery Award, a prize for up-and-coming Canadian directors.
Themes and Translation
Trauma as a Tangible Monster
The creature depicted as the central antagonist of the film is an incomplete puzzle, and it is intentional. It is a direct representation of trauma, particularly the type Joy has from her abusive ex partner. For Shaina, Tara, and even Carmen, the creature seems to take on a form that draws from their most painful experiences and emotions.
Instead of honing in on some real-life beast lurking in the woods, Dark Nature utilizes horror as a metaphor. The horrifying events that women endure are not as much about surviving in the wilderness, but rather, about facing the specters that they have carried with them into the wild.
Solidarity and Isolation
The story centers on women with deeper emotional arcs. Unlike most horror films with shallow relationships as a subplot, Dark Nature explores female relationships, especially the bond between Joy and Carmen. These relationships, while facing challenges and sometimes even breaking, provide a chance for healing and survival.
The therapy retreat also raises the question: Is it possible to achieve true healing in isolation, or through guided therapy frameworks alone? The film proposes that while organized healing has its benefits, there’s a deep-rooted truth: sometimes, survival lies in facing deep pain.
The Canadian wilderness serves as much more than a backdrop. It plays out as an active character in the film, mirroring the psychological landscape of the characters. The darkness, the cold caves, and the remoteness echo a sense of fragility. Nature serves as a reflection for the disorder and havoc that lies beneath the surface for each woman.
Final Thoughts
Dark Nature is an ambitious horror film exploring emotional trauma through the lens of wilderness survival paired with supernatural horror. Its brisk runtime benefits from a small, tightly-knit cast, ensuring the narrative remains sharp and focused. Berkley Brady’s direction reveals a promising career ahead, especially given her choice to explore psychological horror rather than generic scares.
Catering to a more thoughtful and emotional evocation, this film is not for everyone. Traditional horror fans seeking excessive action, gore, or stereotypical jump scares might not be pleased. The film is rooted in real-world trauma, deepening the chilling impact of the horrors it depicts.
Dark Nature may be a relatively under celebrated film with a low IMDb score, but it still earns recognition as a growing contribution to feminist horror. This film goes beyond simply wanting to frighten; it encourages deep introspection and, for some, a bit of healing.
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