Blu-Ray Review: Spring

By Less Lee Moore

I detest romantic comedies. They are often decidedly unromantic and terribly unfunny. Throw drama into the mix and it’s even worse: concocted conflicts and clichéd characters. Horror comedies are a more palatable but often hit or miss. Combining all four genres seems like a bad idea. Somehow Spring manages to do that and still be terrific. It’s the best romantic comedy/drama horror movie you’ve seen yet.

Opening with one of the most heartwrenching scenes you can imagine, Spring lets the viewer know right away that it isn’t ordinary. Once you’ve been disarmed by that gut punch of an intro, Spring then slides easily into a series of genuinely hilarious scenes. Evan (Lou Taylor Pucci) and his friends feel relatable—like people you actually know. Fucked up? Yes, but also relatable. It’s an ingenious way to draw you into Spring‘s world.

Before you know it, things have shifted again. When Evan meets Louise (the luminous Nadia Hilker) there is a palpable chemistry. We are treated to some beautifully written (yet believable) banter between these two. This is not the rapid-fire style of cinematic romance; it’s the way you are your best, most clever self when you’re hardcore flirting with someone that you are falling in love with.

Think you’re in store for a smartly crafted love story? Guess again, because Spring isn’t done. What it transforms into is going to make you run to catch up with it. Still, the film doesn’t rely on any contrived twists that demand you to rethink everything you’ve seen so far. It’s far more intelligent than that.

Written and directed by the same team who brought us 2013’s insanely great Resolution, Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson, Spring is one of the most unique films you’ll see this year. Despite its exceptionally high concept—one that you’ll note I’m trying not to reveal—it’s beautifully naturalistic.

Spring utilizes an earthy, yet washed out color tone in the beginning to show how diminished Evan’s life has become. Then we are assaulted with the gorgeous hues of rural Italy. It’s a similar palette but far more vivid, to indicate that Evan is slowly but surely coming back to life. Of course, the most bold color choice is the red dress Louise is wearing when she first catches Evan’s eye. Obvious, yes, but entirely appropriate. Meanwhile, Jimmy Lavalle’s score is a perfect complement to all of this visual and emotional luxury.

Granted, Spring isn’t as immediate as Resolution, but it does prove that Moorhead and Benson are some of the sharpest minds in independent cinema. They can make a low-budget movie look, feel, and sound like a million dollars. Spring is a bona fide delight that improves with repeated viewings.

The Blu-Ray release includes a dozen special features including a commentary track from Moorhead and Benson, “The Making of Spring” EPK, deleted scenes, SFX case studies, Proof of Concept, an “alternate ending,” promos from the Toronto International Film Festival and Fantastic Fest, and a few hilarious featurettes that reveal how witty Moorhead and Benson can be, often at their own expense.

Spring was released by Anchor Bay Canada and Raven Banner on June 2.