There's no better high than the euphoric feeling one gets when embarking on a cinematic journey and connecting with it in an organic way. Spring, the latest feature from filmmakers Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, is haunting and beautiful, seducing you with a romantic and harrowing path into the unknown that slowly crawls under your skin. It's a film that slowly grips your heart and allures you into a forbidden abyss that never allows you to escape its grasp.
When Evan (Lou Taylor Pucci) is first introduced, he is the embodiment of a meaningless existence. Having been robbed of his family and now jobless, Evan is drowning in humility. With those character traits, it would seem that Evan is supposed to be a hapless victim begging for sympathy, but Pucci doesn't portray him that way. Evan is broken down by his environment and the terrible situations that seem to follow his every step, but within his miserable predicament he becomes reborn and Pucci translates genuine humanity to Evan's intrepid thirst for change. After Evan's life really hits bottom, he is overtaken by a refreshing sense of freedom to go anywhere and just have an adventure for once in his life. He's so desperate to get away from his miserable surroundings that he's willing to let a complete stranger choose his destination and simultaneously an adventure opens an exciting chapter in his life.
Landing in a beautiful small Italian village, Moorhead's luscious cinematography captures the hypnotic allure and the timeless surroundings drifts through the subconscious like walking into an exotic painting come to life. Evan eventually encounters a mysterious and attractive woman named Louise (Nadia Hilker) and she is the embodiment of infinite and miraculous possibilities in his eyes. When fate brings them together again, their chemistry is alluring and there's always a hint of perilousness simmering beneath the surface. There are frightening revelations that are gradually made present in the voyeuristic presentation of Louise's haunting transformation that are heartbreaking and disturbing. As more is revealed of Louise's horrific truth, the emotional impact is unprecedented because of the overwhelming chemistry between Evan and Louise. The detrimental ramifications that this holds on the investment in their relationship speaks volumes of the intensity and dedication these two actors bring to their roles.
Benson's intricate script allows the nuance of their reunion to come across as poetic instead of forced. There's natural synchronicity that draws them together beneath the surface and, as the horrific elements slowly unfold as we learn more about Louise, their relationship appears to be a revelation that they were both destined to cross paths. The less that is known about the horror elements in this film, the more meaningful an experience you will have with Spring and I can not stress this enough. Evan and Louise's adventure unfolds like conceptual music and it's the sense of discovery that lends an atmosphere of romanticism and dread as their journey spirals into nightmarish wonders. Benson understands that the key to earning trust from the audience is to sustain our investment in the moments we spend with Evan and Louise and, in turn, we loyally follow these characters into the aberrant crossroads of their journey.
There's a moment in this film that perfectly encapsulates the boundary between bliss and dread. Louise and Evan are sharing a boat and she's leading them into a beautiful ancient cave where the blue water is glowing and aesthetic senses of their environment stir simultaneous feelings of wonder and danger. From that very moment, that feeling wraps around you and your hypnotically drawn to the River Styx, anticipating your uncharted destination. All of Evan's vivid dreams and dreadful realities are filling his life with a sense of purpose and his path of discovery that awaits him is too enticing to resist. There's subtle atmosphere that lurks throughout this film without being intrusive, but the claustrophobic environment in this scene draws focus to the unknown that surrounds them and the surreal reflections in the water, the lurking fear that Benson and Moorhead have been brewing is bubbling beneath the surface and exploiting the worst that can possibly be imagined.
The deeper this film goes into explaining the bizarre elements of this story, the more Evan and Louise's connection seems to serve a grander purpose. It's a testament to thoughtful filmmaking that answers can be provided to explain the weird aspects of Louise's backstory without robbing the film of it's mystique. Benson and Moorhead have crafted a film that stimulates all of our primal desires and fears, a love story of two damaged souls sharing their exploration of mortality and evolution. Spring is heartfelt, creepy and will stay buried in your thoughts long after it's over.
Movie Score: 4.5/5
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