The trend of independent directors crafting small thoughtful masterworks that innovate on well-worn mediums being snapped up by the big franchises has upsides and downsides. The type of creativity on display in the indie market will never be matched by the IP-obsessed blockbuster scene, but, maybe taking over a big name will bring eyes to the artists' smaller projects.
Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead are, as a duo, among the upper echelon of genre filmmakers. The specific niche they fill is hard to pin down, but after taking in works like The Endless, it becomes clear that no one else could take it over. Even as they take the reins on multiple Marvel Cinematic Universe projects, they're still putting out unique sci-fi content.
Released in 2014, Spring is the second feature film directed by Benson and Moorhead. Benson also wrote the screenplay while Moorhead handled the cinematography, and both are credited as editors and producers. The film stars Lou Taylor Pucci, perhaps best known for a brief role in Netflix's You or his turn in the Evil Dead remake, as Evan, a man at a crossroads in his life. After the passing of his father, he returns to his hometown to take care of his ailing mother. Evan finds himself stuck in a dead-in job, wasting his evenings with his burnout friends, and unable to move on from his extended adolescence. Evan is rocked by the eventual death of his mother, and in his emotionally frayed state, gets into a fistfight that loses him his job. Desperate for a new start, Evan calls his local airport and books the first flight he can get, which just happens to take him to Italy.
Evan's time in Italy is enjoyable but eerily similar to his time back home at first. At least, until he meets Louise, a beautiful woman with whom he is immediately smitten. Louise shows interest in him but seems to back away when pursued. Evan finds himself seeking a new experience, leading him to rent a room from a local farmer and work as his apprentice to stay nearby. This brings Evan into close contact with Louise multiple times and a relationship begins to flourish. It begins to become clear that Louise is more than she appears to be, and her unique circumstances might hold threats more dangerous than heartbreak for Evan. Together, they'll have to deal with some difficult truths and face some of the most bracing body horrors in modern film.
One of the most interesting things about Spring is the way its structure evolves. It's so subtle and naturalistic for the first act that one could easily believe they've stumbled onto something akin to a more masculine Eat Pray Love. The cinematography is expertly used throughout, but it also sells the film's slow shift into its more horrific elements. The film is happy to reveal aspects of Louise's nature to the audience long before Evan starts to realize what's up, which provides a bracing mystery along with some haunting imagery. The juggling act between the staggeringly honest relationship dynamics and the bizarre supernatural elements somehow manages to keep both interesting. By the time the film gets where it's going, it blends its elements into a beautiful exploration of its deeper themes.
At its heart, Spring is a romance story that asks whether love can survive even the strangest of conditions. It's a simple story that hides both complex lore and overwhelming emotional depth behind its naturalistic dialogue. Benson's script sees Evan played as a soft-hearted if slow-witted, young man who thoughtlessly pursues whatever his instincts tell him. Evan runs at love with a level of commitment that is admirable, content to fight until it kills him for the person he believes could be the one. Pucci is an excellent performer, and his easy charisma makes him perfect for the simple role. Louise, on the other hand, is the kind of presence the world seems to bend around. Where Evan is driven by momentary whims, Louise seems to know the world like the back of her hand and is still eagerly pursuing any way it could surprise her. German actress Nadia Hilker, known for portraying Magna in The Walking Dead, is stellar in the role, effortlessly embodying the captivating, intelligent, and mysterious woman.
Spring is not a movie that is easily explained. Its successes are mostly in tiny details. The performances are excellent, the writing is solid, and the cinematography looks fantastic. In their second feature-length outing, Benson and Moorhead crafted something that it's hard to imagine anyone else coming up with. Spring had a brief and limited run in theaters after a successful premiere at TIFF, keeping it out of the realm of box office success. Like most of Benson and Moorhead's features, it has to succeed on the power of cult success. Spring is an evolution of the format that more people need to lay eyes on. Fans looking for it now can find the film on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Tubi.