Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead have quickly proved themselves to be two of the most interesting voices on the genre scene. Their film, The Endless, is nothing sort of mind-bending perfection, and their debut to which The Endless is intrinsically linked, offers a bold vision. In between both of those projects, the filmmaking duo made Spring – a Lovecraft-meets-Linklater monster love story set within the gorgeous landscapes of Italy. If you’ve yet to check the film out then there’s no time like the present as it arrives on UK bluray for the first time from Monday 30th November.
The film stars Lou Taylor Pucci as Evan, an American who has fled to Italy to escape his problems. Whilst there he encounters the beautiful local, Louise (Nadia Hilker), to whom he is instantly drawn to. As the pair begin to get to know one another, Evan finds himself starting to fall for the dark-haired stranger. Louise is masking a dangerous secret however, one that has serious repercussions for their fledgling romance. Can love prevail against such insurmountable odds?
Stunningly shot, Spring has a fairy-tale aesthetic to it. This tone is apt considering the story that is being told, and Benson and Moorhead achieve some impressive visuals despite their limited budget. Wanting to fully show off the beautiful scenery of the story world, the camerawork features a series of overhead drone shots. It’s a little trick that makes Spring appear that little bit more expensive than it actually is. Given the gorgeous vistas and sumptuous colours on display, it’s so vital that the blu-ray has arrived on UK shores so that viewers can finally view the film in all its high-definition glory. If you thought Spring looked good in standard definition, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
Hilker is now better known to the masses for her work on both The 100 and The Walking Dead, but it is in Spring that she really gets the chance to showcase her acting talent. Her performance as the love-lorn and conflicted Louise is devastating. Unlike Anne Rice’s vampires, Louise has always embraced her otherness, and is unapologetic about her existence. Her chance encounter with Evan however, throws everything into a tailspin with Hilker articulating many emotions with an artful subtlety.
Spring really does play as the genre version of Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy and in doing so opens the film up to a completely new audience. As much as the story may feature a strange creature, and several deaths, it’s not a horrific film that would distress those unused to the macabre. Monster elements aside, Spring is an incredible haunting and romantic tale that will make the heart ache in the way that only those really special films can manage.
Spring arrives on Blu-ray from Monday 30th November 2020.
Spring
Summary
Lovecraft and Linklater collide in this heartachingly romantic and gorgeously shot film that embraces the strange.
