Spring (2014)

Love is a Monster

By Paul Birch

Spoilers ahead!

Cross Genre films are becoming more and more popular as the viewing public need something extra to keep their interest. Of course, sometimes a film will come along that transcends genre. A film that you only hear about through word of mouth. That film where someone says ‘You HAVE to see this’. So you search for it, and when you finally find it, it just blows your mind. For me this is in the top 5 of films ever made. I’ve seen around 5,000 films (at least) so a top5 spot means it must mean something to me. It’s also one of those films that I have to make everyone watch, and I’ll admit I’ll base my entire view on them as a human being based on their thoughts of this afterwards!

Directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead were little known in the industry. They’d had a small indie hit with Resolution, and through this were given a segment in one of the V/H/S anthology series, and were well on their way to bigger and better things. This is a story you’ll hear about with literally hundreds of directors though. Some go on to bigger and better (Trevorrow going from Safety not Guaranteed being the best example) and then you have all of the one hit wonders.
Justin and Aaron didn’t want this though. They had a vision. They were always horror fans, but were looking for something more. We’ll get to them more later though.

Spring is on the face of it a simple story. A love story of sorts. Evan (played to perfection by Lou Taylor Pucci) is your average working class American. We find him at a crosswords in his life. The opening shot is him at his mothers side, as she loses her fight with cancer. A distraught Evan ends up in trouble with the police after a drunken altercation and a friend suggests a well needed holiday away from his troubles is what he needs. So hungover, and running out of options at home, he ends up in Europe. Here he meets two brits who lead him on a path of booze and women as he tries to escape his demons. Now some might see these two brits as caricatures of how people behave but trust me, unfortunately they have this spot on.

Whilst with these two reprobates he meets Louise (a simply stunning performance by Nadia Hilker) and they instantly connect. So far… so so right? It’s well shot, and basing most of the film in the idyllic coastal beauty of Bari everything is stunning. There is more to this story though, there always is right? We aren’t sure as yet what is up, but we know something. 

After a night of passion Louise leaves and when they next meet they begin to learn more about each other emotionally, now that they know each other physically. One of the best scenes of the film happens over a dinner date they are having where they are exchanging personal details. Louise takes out a contact lense, showing a different eye colour. Evan has seen this before, in the old books on the area and some of the older paintings. Evan wants a picture of Louise but she does now want this, when a picture is taken it is severely out of focus as if she is not who says she is. Then she runs off. This is where we really see who she is. We have seen hints, as she is something else, but as she is accosted by a drunk who mistakes her for a prostitute, we see the fuller picture. 

The next vital scene is where Evan goes to see Louise at her house and hears struggling. Smashing the door down, he sees her mutation, she is on the floor, half monster and half beast. There is a needle next to her and this is where he has a decision to make… stay or flee. He decides, of course, to stay, and helps her return back to her normal self.

We find out the history of what she is now. This is where the film does something smart. It keeps it simple…ish. So, and this sounds silly on paper, but on film it is a delight. Louise is a 2,000 year old monster. Every 20 years she will become impregnated and use the cells in her unborn child to recreate herself as she fights back from the monster that she is. There is more to it though. Should she fall in love, her body will create a hormone that will keep these cells from being consumed, and she will become mortal. In 2000 years this has never happened though and she says she will never give up her immortality for anyone. This is a modern day fairytale. Pinocchio meets the elves from Lord of the Rings. It’s beautifully made though, with no cynicism or irony, and this is why it works. The usual genre cross-over for horror is comedy, and although this works, here it would have become farcical. Playing it straight lead you to one of the great modern romances. 

The effects are stunning and for the budget (could not find the amount but assuming it must be small) you’d believe this was a major production company in charge. It doesn’t overstretch or try to show you more than you need, and this is a major plus point for the movie. Instead, you focus on the characters, and the more you believe in them, the more you believe in everything else you are seeing.

After knowing all of this, Evan still wants to be with her, so asks to spend the last 24 hours with her. He is in love with her, and admits it freely. Louise says that she cannot control who she loves, the monster is in control. If he stays with her during the change and her body and soul is not in love with him, he will be killed.

Now we have massive spoilers. If you have seen this then you may agree or not, but if not… then stop reading this and watch the film.

So, the ending. It’s beautiful. Louise is lying with her head on Evans lap, outside. In the background a volcano gently erupts. Evan is looking down at Louise and the music is playing (the soundtrack by Jimmy Lavelle is just stunning. Gentle piano keys mixed with deep strings to omit an emotion mirrored by what you’re seeing).

Finally we here a crunching sound, as if a transformation is taking place. Evan looks down and Louise is there, as herself…. Showing that she has fallen in love with him.

Now I’ve had arguments about this ending. Some people wanted the film to stop 5 seconds earlier, so as a viewer we are left to guess if she changes or not. I don’t think that would work. Films with ambiguous endings are great, I love them. Sometimes though, you want an end to the fairytale. Evan has been through a lot, Louise even more so and to see such hope in the world is what ties the film together.

What puts this film above anything else is the originality in how it is made. Making something so sincere under anyone else would have been crass. What we get is something so stunningly beautiful that you can believe that in all the evil that occurs in the world, there can always be redemption. You can take your before sunrise, or In the mood for love. For me this is where is begins and ends. Love really is a monster. It’s something to fight for, and when you meet the right person it’s something you can give up everything for. Telling it in a way so different from anything else is just the icing on the cake.