Spring
Drafthouse Films | Release Date: March 20, 2015
7.1
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 68 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
48
Mixed:
15
Negative:
5
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
7
tvnewsguidoJun 27, 2015
While not wholly satisfying as either a romantic dramedy or a horror film, Spring is sweet and engaging. The characters are likable and it's pretty.

It's a neat concept which I've never seen explored in quite this way before. I liked itWhile not wholly satisfying as either a romantic dramedy or a horror film, Spring is sweet and engaging. The characters are likable and it's pretty.

It's a neat concept which I've never seen explored in quite this way before. I liked it but I probably wouldn't recommend it for a general audience because it requires a level of patience I think most folk lack.… Expand
4 of 4 users found this helpful40
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9
slayde11Apr 6, 2015
As a longtime horror movie fan, I've come to realize that what can often make or break a horror film is the degree of human insight its writers have infused into the screenplay. The best genre filmmakers aren't so much interested inAs a longtime horror movie fan, I've come to realize that what can often make or break a horror film is the degree of human insight its writers have infused into the screenplay. The best genre filmmakers aren't so much interested in delivering cheap jump scares as they are in holding up a mirror, and then gradually, inexorably peeling away our manufactured layers of security. For me, "Spring" represents an amazing achievement because its underlying character dynamics are believable enough that the film could almost stand on its own (as a very close cousin to "Before Sunrise") without the horror element. But what an awesome, disturbing, and ultimately heartwrenching jolt that added horror element provides. The story itself may push our boundaries of believability, but the two leads absolutely sell it in the most subtle yet intentional of ways. A true throwback to '70s era horror as well, where viewers were trusted to observe and consider and patiently wait for the chills to wash over them. Plus, the added bonus (and visual counterpoint) of beautifully idyllic locales and breathtaking photography. See this film.… Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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8
ManicMorrisAug 8, 2015
Surprising in the best possible way, Spring is equal parts charming, dialogue-fuelled indie romantic comedy and almost Cronenberg-ian Body horror. Who would have thought the two would go so well together? The fact that it almost effortlesslySurprising in the best possible way, Spring is equal parts charming, dialogue-fuelled indie romantic comedy and almost Cronenberg-ian Body horror. Who would have thought the two would go so well together? The fact that it almost effortlessly creates not only interesting characters in its two leads but a well-thought out mythology too is something of a minor filmmaking miracle.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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8
duncan1964Jul 17, 2015
This story of a young man holidaying in Italy and finding romance would appear to be your standard teen romance, until things take a turn for the very strange half way through. The directors treat the impending horror with subtlety andThis story of a young man holidaying in Italy and finding romance would appear to be your standard teen romance, until things take a turn for the very strange half way through. The directors treat the impending horror with subtlety and humanity which makes this stand head and shoulders above similar genre fare. Imaging if David Cronenberg had directed Before Sunrise and you have some idea of the tone of this unique film. Directors Benson and Moorhead are certainly talents to watch.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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9
darrollxxApr 13, 2015
Acceptance, of physical and emotional imperfection, is the thrust of this movie. The simple, original plot delves deeper into romance than mere Hollywood love and sentimentality. It celebrates the frightening, the unpredictable, the unseemly,Acceptance, of physical and emotional imperfection, is the thrust of this movie. The simple, original plot delves deeper into romance than mere Hollywood love and sentimentality. It celebrates the frightening, the unpredictable, the unseemly, the dangerous, and the eternal within all of us. This film asks if we are ready to accept these things within one another, and within ourselves.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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8
Meth-dudeAug 3, 2015
The acting from the main two characters was okay but for the rest,most of them were pretty bad.The special effects and the locations were pretty amazing.There is not that much going on in the movie and in the last half hour the movie getsThe acting from the main two characters was okay but for the rest,most of them were pretty bad.The special effects and the locations were pretty amazing.There is not that much going on in the movie and in the last half hour the movie gets pretty slow, but it's still a great movie.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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10
JackConstantineApr 5, 2020
Really enjoyed it. Good movie, not a fan of romance films (not limiting the movie to just a romance film as it's really not), but either way this one stuck with me more than I thought it would. Solid acting, really good dialogue (althoughReally enjoyed it. Good movie, not a fan of romance films (not limiting the movie to just a romance film as it's really not), but either way this one stuck with me more than I thought it would. Solid acting, really good dialogue (although maybe 1 or 2 places where it was a tad cringe), just a shame they cut back on the horror element a bit (in interviews they said a good amount was cut anyway). Oh and the score is beautiful too!… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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9
SolInvictaJul 2, 2015
Spring is a movie that creeps up on you, keeping you guessing and fully invested in everything these characters do and say. Even at its most inconceivable, Spring makes it believable through chemistry and love - it's one you won't soon forget.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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7
FlickLoverJun 3, 2015
"Love is a Monster." At first, I wondered where Spring was going. Then, Evan meets Louise and things begin to get monstrously interesting. Mixed in with a romantic Italian setting, we are given insight into a darkness. Beauty and death are"Love is a Monster." At first, I wondered where Spring was going. Then, Evan meets Louise and things begin to get monstrously interesting. Mixed in with a romantic Italian setting, we are given insight into a darkness. Beauty and death are everywhere. Spring takes you on a romantic and dark journey that I enjoyed taking.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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3
Fb29Sep 6, 2015
IT'S A TRAP. This is not a horror movie. This is a paranormal romance. I don't know who the script was written for - it's sappy. I hated the main character by the end and wanted him dead. The only good scenes were the comic relief provided byIT'S A TRAP. This is not a horror movie. This is a paranormal romance. I don't know who the script was written for - it's sappy. I hated the main character by the end and wanted him dead. The only good scenes were the comic relief provided by the protagonist's buds and the British dudes.… Expand
2 of 4 users found this helpful22
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6
DRauchDoes2015Apr 19, 2015
Spring comes unheralded as a horror film, disregarding notions of genre absolutes by being pleasurable in equal measure as a romance. Lesser films may consider themselves more a subversion than they really are, often half-heartedly embracingSpring comes unheralded as a horror film, disregarding notions of genre absolutes by being pleasurable in equal measure as a romance. Lesser films may consider themselves more a subversion than they really are, often half-heartedly embracing the genres of comedy, action, western, etc. as a niche meant to propel the end product beyond normalcy. Spring's mashup of stylistic influence is, though not without it's faults, at least genuine in it's appreciation for the dual genres it takes on. It is a film that could be mistaken first as a romance with a supernatural twist, rather than the reverse, and that lends it some emotional heft often bereft in scary movies.

Spring follows Evan, an American who has lost his mother and his job in the same week and, pressured by police pursuit, travels to Italy until things simmer down back home. There, he meets an enticing girl named Louise, whom he has several flirtatious encounters with before the two have sex. Afterwards, she, though interested in Evan, is standoffish about continuing their relationship. The two have a falling out, yet Evan is persistent, believing himself to be in love with her. He uncovers a jarring, horrible secret she has kept from him the entire time: she is a half-monster immortal of sorts.

Spring then becomes in its third act, a completely different, more fulfilled movie. It plays out like a supernatural entry in the 'Before' franchise (Before Spring?) once Evan finds out the two have one day left before she is reborn into another version of herself and loses half her memories of him. Though constraints of time and circumstantial bad luck are tropes common in romances, Spring has the same urgency to connect in spite of cosmic misfortune as Linklater's masterful trilogy.

This is a feat brought to fruition by the chemistry and likability of the two leads. Their dynamic feels emotionally honest, their dialogue denied venturing into cliched artifice. Pucci and Hilker interact in casual, unforced sparring matches, trading flirtatious banter that, while intermittently cheesy, never feel insincere. Their conversations frequently touch on subjects that are actually interesting and often existential.

The preceding section of the film, before Evan uncovers Louise's secret, is a directionless hour-long exposition, though not an unbearable one. The mandatory dispersion of hints building to the reveal of Louise's true monstrous nature feel contrived, one of the habitual obligations kept in honor of Spring's horror roots. In the meantime, as Evan bides his time working as a farmer and traversing many of Italy's most idyllic locales, we are treated with heavily saturated, dreamy cinematography and a lulling trance score from Jimmy Lavalle. Oddly, though, the looming awareness of a distant violence doesn't break, even in the most scenic passages. The eventfulness of the final act of Spring, however, can't help but cast a shadow over the previous hour, one that renders it a comparatively dull, conflict-stripped watch.

The design for the predatory form Louise takes on is worth note - she is a pretty disgusting and unique movie monster for such an enticing figure as hers. However, where she feels truly distinct in a pantheon of other villainous cryptozoological entities is her place in the real world, one governed by scientific laws devoid of cryptic pseudo-logical explanations. Louise denounces herself to be some creature of myth. Rather, providing an understanding of assorted biological knowledge, asserts herself as a single-instance of abnormality that science has yet to explain. It's a nice touch, a creature whose existence is unexplained, yet one that doesn't provide otherworldly origin stories over something based in reality.

The conclusion of Spring, much like Benson's fantastic debut from 2013, Resolution (one of my favorite modern horror movies), is fleet and ambiguous, yet satisfying. We are left with an iconic shot, one filled with an equal dosage of dread and hopefulness. It is subtle and devastating, almost moving. The volcanic eruption encompasses all of the frenetic romantic impulses our hero endures for this woman he refuses to see forget him, even if it results in a hyperbolic, ultraviolent death. Though it is a bit over-the-top, it is my favorite moment in Spring, one that I think is enjoyable even out of the context of the movie, a mini-cinematic-universe in itself.

Though I deem Resolution more ingenious and ambitiously executed, Spring is a VERY good follow up, and it could be argued that it contains more resonance and poignancy than it's stylistic predecessor. It's an uncommonly thoughtful, genuine story, one that propels Benson and Moorhead to prominent figures in the new wave of horror-revivalists. I hope that the duo can maintain the consistency of greatness I've seen from them so far and craft a true masterpiece of the genre. Though Spring falls short of that pedigree, it's damn good, and legitimately scary to boot.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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7
LeZeeAug 17, 2016
Boy meets girl, girl reveals her true identity and what did the boy do!

This is a surprise film. A romance-drama with the backdrop of the smart mix of sci-fi and fantasy. You won't always get a B movie as good as this one. So when you findBoy meets girl, girl reveals her true identity and what did the boy do!

This is a surprise film. A romance-drama with the backdrop of the smart mix of sci-fi and fantasy. You won't always get a B movie as good as this one. So when you find one, you should appreciate them. It never needed the higher-end graphics, because everything it required of those were in small quantity. Even though they did not compromise and gave best visuals that greatly impacted to the narration.

The leading two were very impressive. The Italian locations as well equally beautiful, overall the screenplay was the real winner. The story of an American man who flees to Italy after his mother's death and followed by a small incident. There he meets an unusual young research student and convinces her to date him. While they both getting closer, a series of weird stuffs begins to threaten their relationship. Explaining those to one another and for us the what the remaining film focused.

This is like 'Before Sunrise' meets some monster film. I don't think it is very original, but kind of refreshing that carefully carved film. If you see the film poster, you won't get the impression that you want to watch it immediately, but if you give it a try, surely you would be, I mean majority of you won't end in a disappointment. There's no way it should have been better, because it is already at its best in a simple way. Not a must see, but I hope you won't miss this little gem if you're reading this.

7/10… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
tasslehoff69Sep 22, 2018
Lots of potential, but overall disappointing. Too slow, and I did not like the ending.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
BITESCREENJun 22, 2017
Nach dem Krebstod der Mutter und dem Verlust seines Jobs hält den jungen Evan nichts mehr im stressigen Los-Angeles – im nächsten Flieger geht es an die italienische Küste. Britische Buddies und die meditative Arbeit auf einem Gutshof lenkenNach dem Krebstod der Mutter und dem Verlust seines Jobs hält den jungen Evan nichts mehr im stressigen Los-Angeles – im nächsten Flieger geht es an die italienische Küste. Britische Buddies und die meditative Arbeit auf einem Gutshof lenken den Trauernden schnell ab – vor allem aber die Romanze mit der bildschönen Louise. Doch je näher man sich kommt, desto mysteriöser wird die Fremde: Warum flieht sie spontan vom Essen? Was hat die Spritze im Bad zu bedeuten? Und warum säumen kopflose Tierkadaver die Straßen der Stadt? Spring – Love is a Monster ist zu großen Teilen eine sensibel und technisch einwandfrei gefilmte, aber ziemlich substanzlose Urlaubsromanze, die mit aufdringlicher Frucht- und Tiersymbolik ihr Unheil ankündigt: Für kurze, starke Momente wird Justin Bensons und Aaron Moorheads Fantasy-Filmfest-Hit dann zum faszinierenden, schleimigen, teils interpretationsoffenen Cronenberg-Horror. Das große Ganze jedoch ist ein über 90 Minuten langer Dauerflirt zweier sich null entwickelnden Figuren.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
JLuis_001Sep 7, 2017
Strange, even somewhat bizarre, this film seems to be an artifice like Twilight but in a more horrifying way and with humorous winks, it's a respectable job, but I doubt it connects with a majority audience.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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10
qbaseDec 16, 2018
Πρόκειται ουσιαστικά για μια ρομαντική ιστορία, με έντονα τα στοιχεία του μυστηρίου, του τρόμου, ακόμα και της επιστημονικής φαντασίας. Και ακριβώς επειδή η ταινία είναι ασυνήθιστη, την απολαμβάνει κανείς πολύ περισσότερο ξεκινώντας να τηνΠρόκειται ουσιαστικά για μια ρομαντική ιστορία, με έντονα τα στοιχεία του μυστηρίου, του τρόμου, ακόμα και της επιστημονικής φαντασίας. Και ακριβώς επειδή η ταινία είναι ασυνήθιστη, την απολαμβάνει κανείς πολύ περισσότερο ξεκινώντας να την παρακολουθεί χωρίς να γνωρίζει και πολλά για την πλοκή.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
ShoaibRahamanDec 12, 2020
That movie has some illogical and goofy plots, to some these might be nonsense, but somehow, the cinematography, acting, and attention to detail made this movie kinda great. I liked it and would recommend it.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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