Its a time-honoured tale; boy goes backpacking across Europe, boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, girl turns out to be something other than human. Not unlike Nina Forever, Justin Benson and Aaron Moorheads Spring takes a premise which might easily have resulted in something altogether trashier, but instead made a very smart, sensitive and challenging film, with a deeply romantic heart. Lou Taylor Pucci and Nadia Hilker do great work as the star-crossed lovers, and while well avoid spoilers we will say its impressive how grounded their performances remain considering quite how out-there the concept gets. The supernatural elements underline the kind of immense undertaking it can be to fall in love, and to entertain the notion of sharing the rest of your life in effect, eternity with one person. Its also a hugely picturesque film thanks to the idyllic Italian coastal setting. Still, for more dyed-in-the-wool horror fans who prefer things a bit less pretty, theres a healthy side order of slimy creature FX and gore.
