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SFF 2015: Spring Review

SpringDirectors: Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead.

Cast: Lou Taylor Pucci, Nadia Hilker.

Certificate: N/A

Running Time: 109 minutes

Synopsis: After a personal tragedy and a run in with unhappy locals, Evan (Pucci) flees to Italy where he comes across a strange but alluring woman (Hilker).

Spring may have already sprung and bounced into summer, but love is truly still in the air. Even in this most bizarre of horror romances. Taking its cue from many similar films before it, we find a young couple, one of whom harbours a dark secret, come together despite all the odds. Part mystery, part horror, but mostly romance, Spring is a delightfully gothic film with a lot of potential.

As our lead, Pucci envelops his character with a great deal of warmth and sympathy very early on. He’s the caring sort, having taken care of his sick mother, but he also has a temper to him. He’s also a man of dreams of travelling away from his closeted existence. During some sympathy sex his character Evan surprises his partner by revealing he has a passport. Something so normal for many of us coming as a surprise hints at the restrictive and homegrown world Evan is from. After beating a mouthy jerk on the day of his mother’s funeral, Evan decides to protect himself from repercussions by travelling off to Italy.

Once in Italy he meets the strange and distant Louise (Hilker). Their relationship warms up quickly and Benson’s script does an excellent job at revealing their connection slowly. Their connection continues to be developed upon, even as we as the audience are given little horrific glimpses into Louise’s true nature. The film does an excellent job at keeping her true form a secret, and we’re never sure what (if any) mythical creature we’re dealing with. There’s some very impressive practical effects that constantly surprise in their detail and professionalism. Just when you think you’ve cracked the case, the next monster shot is something completely new and unsettling.

Having the love story be the focus is the true strength of Spring. It isn’t so much about dealing with the monstrous form; at least not until the final third. But just a genuine relationship with an unconventional and inconvenient twist. It becomes about support and understanding, which could have been applied to any realistic situation involving a mysterious dark past. With such beautiful scenery though, the personal story of Louise and Evan is almost completely swamped. These locations certainly represent the weight bearing down on our protagonists, but they are almost smothered by it too.

Spring holds a lot of great ideas, especially an ending that wasn’t exactly to be expected. The performances are strong enough and the chemistry is almost contagious. With enough artistry and focus towards entertainment, this is a stylish and very worthwhile horror/romance gem. It may sag here and there with a running time where we could have lost a bit of Louise pushing Evan away, but overall it’s an admirable effort. Smart, stylish, brutal, and loving, this is a treat for those who want more than just your regular chiller thriller.

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Luke likes many things, films and penguins being among them. He's loved films since the age of 9, when STARGATE and BATMAN FOREVER changed the landscape of modern cinema as we know it. His love of film extends to all aspects of his life, with trips abroad being planned around film locations and only buying products featured in Will Smith movies. His favourite films include SEVEN SAMURAI, PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC, IN BRUGES, LONE STAR, GODZILLA, and a thousand others.

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