Nature’s Nightmare: A Frightful Journey Through the Wild

The series Nature’s Nightmare, narrated by Maya Hawk and produced by Jason Blum, has a chilling vibe, almost reminiscent of a horror film. In its first season, titled “The Shed in the Woods,” viewers track three different creatures as they confront various dangers within their environments.

Opening Shot: The narration begins with Hawk’s memorable voice saying, “Nature is full of wonder and beauty.” As butterflies flutter about, she adds, “But for the creatures living in the wild, there are also plenty of monsters.”

Key Points: A pregnant rat scrambles through a cabin, searching for safety from predators like hawks, snakes, and owls. Meanwhile, a young bird, having been pushed from the nest, is on a quest for food but lacks the skills to catch a Hog Northsnake, which, amusingly, defends itself by playing dead and releasing an unpleasant odor. This rat narrowly escapes a crocodile after finding and consuming its eggs. Eventually, a raccoon enters the cabin, seemingly indifferent to the decaying remains of previous uninvited guests.

We also meet a small bullfrog still getting used to his body after transitioning from a tadpole. He remains hidden in a rusty pot, as Hawk explains, because he “sees things.” Though tadpoles can grow quite large, danger lurks everywhere, and the leap to adulthood involves its own set of risks.

Similar Shows: Nature’s Nightmare might remind some viewers of another Netflix nature series, Small Creatures.

Our View: Jason Blum serves as the main executive producer, with Nathan Small overseeing the first season. The series adopts a cinematic style typical of horror films. Despite the efforts to inject drama and suspense, the concept doesn’t fully land, leaving something to be desired.

A disclaimer at the episode’s start mentions that some footage has been oriented towards drama, implying that select animals may have been filmed in controlled environments rather than the wild. Viewers might appreciate Blumhouse and Pimsoll Productions acknowledging that while animal behaviors are authentic, the settings could be somewhat staged. It’s clear that real consumption happens on screen, with no visual effects used—at least, that’s the impression given.

Hawk’s narration, unexpectedly sensual, might not hit the mark for everyone, though it does add a unique tension to the scenes. At times, her delivery feels a bit smooth, producing a calm rather than frightful ambiance—possibly not the intent of the filmmakers.

The show attempts to wrap itself in traditional horror tropes designed to make the audience jump. However, they often miss that mark. Many scenes mirror those in nature documentaries where predatory animals chase their prey, only for the victims to escape. If the animal protagonists succumb, there wouldn’t be much narrative left to explore. Interestingly, the first episode hints that the cabin’s human inhabitants present a more significant threat to the creatures than anything occurring outside.

Sex and Skin: None.

Farewell Shot: As the creatures find rest in the cabin, cars pass down the road. Hawk’s voice wraps things up, stating, “Here, in the real world, they’re about to face the worst nightmare.”

Sleeper Star: The close-ups of animals are impressive, even if created in a studio setting, showcasing the talent of the director and the wranglers involved.

Most Pilot Y-line: Not found.

Our Call: Stream Nature’s Nightmare; it’s worth a watch now and then, just don’t be surprised if it doesn’t leave you feeling too scared.