Review: Jay Baruchel’s ‘Random Acts of Violence’ Takes Us on A Bloody Road Trip

Jay Baruchel’s new horror film Random Acts of Violence just hit the horror streamer, Shudder last week. The film stars Jesse Williams (Cabin in the Woods), Jay Baruchel, who wrote and directed the film, Jordana Brewster (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning), and Niamh Wilson (Saw III).

Random Acts of Violence centers around Todd (Williams), creator of the ultra violent comic book Slasherman. Which was inspired by a real life serial killer, who was never caught. After struggling to find an ending for his comic series, Todd decides to go on a road trip along the same highway the killer used to hunt for victims.

With his girlfriend Kathy (Brewster), publisher Ezra (Baruchel) and assistant Aurora (Wilson), they set out to promote Slasherman and cure Todd’s writer’s block. During a stop at a gas station, Todd and Ezra decide to supply the gas station with loads of free Slasherman comics. When this catches the eye of the actual Slasherman all hell breaks loose. Todd struggles with the concept of exploiting the victims for his comic book and questions about his own past. Slasherman decides his life will imitate Todd’s art and begins killing again in very familiar fashion. How it all ends is in the violent hands of Slasherman. 

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Early in the film viewers will get hints of other road trip horrors such as Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Children of the Corn. This homage is only made even more evident as the film progresses. There is also plenty of guts, gore and death along the way as the story unfolds. The filmmakers do a great job at keeping things fresh and tense. 

Random Acts of Violence seems to play on the questions of how the use of violent media actually creates violence in real life. It doesn’t shy away from the fact that Todd’s comic book was very much exploiting the real life murders of the actual Slasherman. We see the fallout that he has when confronted by the humanity of the victims and also how it effects his art. Baruchel does a good job showcasing that those who knew the victims are also afflicted as well.

Throughout the film I felt it was attempting to answer the question, does violent content influence real life or is it the other way around? While this film does raise some questions about where we draw the line between fiction and nonfiction. It can also be said, that it raises questions about how far people go to discover their own trauma that brings out these violent ideals. Moreover it seems to say that real life violence is what is responsible for the brutal reality of the world and the art that stems from it.

The film can be a little on the predictable side at times, especially concerning Todd’s past. All in all, Random Acts of Violence is a gory fun ride worth a watch. If you’re a fan of the movies mentioned above you’ll enjoy this film if for nothing more than the Slasherman’s random acts of gory violence. 3/5

You can currently find Random Acts of Violence streaming exclusively on Shudder. Check out the trailer below and be sure to follow ScaryNerd for more of all things horror.