Customer Reviews

Wicked Spring

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This little independent film is just perfect. It is poetry for the eyes. The backdrop of this movie is the American Civil War's Battle of the Wilderness. Written, directed, and produced by Kevin Hershberger the film unfolds like a canvas before your eyes. Shot on location throughout Virginia it gives the viewer a perfect feel for the times in which the story takes place. Six soldiers, a terrible battle, friends, enemies, and waiting love are all in this story. The acting is great too. Brian Merrick as Confederate Harrison Bolding and DJ Perry as Yank John Sunderlin really play well off of one and other. A good part of the story takes place at night when color and affinities are blurred. There is a good lesson here about war and humanity. If you are a Civil War history lover, buff, or whatever buy this DVD.

I would recommend this to all Civil war buffs and Indie filmmakers that have a chance to get a copy of this film. This is the first feature from this director and he does a great job. The story of two soldiers torn by war is as old as time, but "Wicked Spring" takes a fresh view at the troubles and trials of the Civil War soldier.

The best scenes in this movie are between the Union and Confederate leads over the reading and writing of letters home. A touching and believeable scene. Outstanding music worthy of any big budget flick, an intense and deliberate use of great sound effects. The authentic feel of the movie is off the charts. If you get a chance, get your hands on this movie.

Writer-director Kevin Hershberger has done something special with Wicked Spring which other directors, with much bigger budgets, have failed to do: created a period piece which transcends the period. Wicked Spring is not just about a War; it's about the people fighting the war. Just as the soldiers from both sides of the conflict laid aside their weapons and shared a campfire, the Director laid aside the politics of the War and brought into the light the predicament men in war find themselves in: they want love, but are asked to kill. That's harder to swallow than tack.

The battle scenes were nicely wrought, and these are where Hershberger's vision came out the most: because of the evocative mood, tone, and depth of the camera shots, the battle scenes were some of the best I've seen in Civil War movies. Hershberger should also be given kudos for casting natural actors with the look and integrity to carry this picture. Hershberger obviously saw that the two lead actors had presence, and, when the scene boils down to just the two of them talking about life, love, and war, Wicked Spring is at its best.

Nevertheless, I'd recommend this movie. Especially to Civil War buffs, but really to anybody interested in what goes on in a soldier's heart.

I had the DVD pre-ordered and anxiously awaited its arrival. You can dis-regard the negative review below because evidently that person has became spoiled by Hollywoods version of war...and idn't a history buff at all.

Yes the film was short and the dialouge lacked in some places. But then again would you spill your whole life story to a stranger you'd just met? No. The film was on a $500,000 budget and they had like 65 re-enactors. With what little they had...they done an AWESOME job with the most accurate battle scenes and uniforms that have came outta the Civil War era of films. EVER!! This was a film about the horrors of war...and how we got to get a peek into just a few of the soldier's lives...and then we saw how everything was destoryed right before our eyes. As war really was and is.

Director Kevin Hershberger has crafted an exciting and emotional Civil War drama set during the brutal 1864 battle of the Wilderness, where over 25,000 Confederate and Union troops were killed, wounded or captured. The battle scenes are brutal and real, and the acting is quite good. During the first ten minutes of the film, you see what each man is leaving behind as they go to war; one to fight to preserve the Union, the other to defend his home. Any Civil War historian, and fan of serious drama, will want to check out "Wicked Spring." Movie/DVD Grade: A-

As with the a couple of the other reviewers, I'm also a reenactor.

I found this movie to be simply outstanding. The beginning farewell scenes can be argued to be cliche (as another reviewer posted), but they help formulate the storyline -- and the storyline of this movie is about personal human virtues, not the strategies and tactics of the battlefield.

All wars are ugly, but only those that actually participated in the ACW will really know how ugly that tragic conflict truely was. Battles are hardly ever fought by perfectly formulated regiments, in brand-new clean uniforms, under the most gorgeous field and sky conditions. Battles are fought in the dirt, under chaos and confusion, where even the most honorable individual can lose his life at any given moment --- and there is no dramatic orchestra playing when this moment arrives. "Wicked Spring" brings this to the screen.

As to the reviewer that had difficulty in the storyline based upon the characters that didn't easily determine that half their group weren't "the bad guys", I pondered that myself but can to the conclusion that the two that stayed up during the night DID realize early that they were opponents. When they began to have suspicions, they simply didn't address the issue as they didn't want to know. When it was beyond a doubt, (when the letter was read that used the term "Southern Stars"), they mutually decided to overlook the fact. As for criticism about carrying letters and never getting anyone in the regiment to read them, I found that to be acceptable. One word: pride.

The ending may not sit well by those accustomed to the Hollywood flavor, but I found the ending to be very powerful. I was expecting a Hollywood-twist for the ending, but that did not occur. This movie took the unusual route of respecting the intelligence of the viewer.

Maxwell's films ("Gettysburg", "Gods and Generals") are entertaining -- but "Wicked Spring" brings you into the rank and file for a truely human story.

The story line has been used in novels and films over and over again. The films saving grace is it's attention to Civil War soldier detail, and accuracy. If you could look in the past and see an actual Civil War battle, it may look alot like the scenes in this film. Some shots reminded me of war paintings from the period because everything was so damn correct. I have been a student of the Civil War since the 1960's and feel that this movie comes very close to the mark. I think the average movie watcher will find the film slow moving and "fluffy." Five stars for doing what no Hollywood picture has ever done: Portray a gritty realistic view of the American soldier from the 1860's. Also, It was great not having to see the overweight, middle aged re-enactors seen in Ted Turners celluloid pipe dreams. The average age of the real Civil war soldiers ranged from 18-26 years of age, according to Bruce Catton. These actors fit the bill.

In the dark woods of the Wilderness, lost Civil War soldiers blunder together and spend the night sheltering from the battle.

I liked a lot of things about this movie -- the way that a small number of participants were made to look like whole armies by using terrain (rather than just marching the same guys back and forth past the camera the way small-budget historical films often do); the realism of the battle and battle-aftermath scenes; the appealing, quirky and ultimately doomed characters; the lack of anything immediately noticeable as anachronistic. The film held my attention throughout and I found its conclusion both moving and thematically appropriate.

I wondered why the characters didn't figure out each other's allegiance until dawn (accents wouldn't help? Or the fact that the one guy had coffee and the other tobacco?). And I also question something I see over and over in Civil War movies: no one believes in what he's fighting for. Particularly Southerners. They're all just sort of innocent farm boys who are there because, apparently, they were too dumb to know better. Historically accurate film ought to portray the range of motivations that actuated Civil War soldiers on both sides to fight.

While I liked the dialogue-free quality of the opening scenes, I found their content cloying and only put up with them because I expected that there would be a big contrast coming up.

Having said all that, I liked Wicked Spring very much. I would compare it to much higher-profile Civil War movies such as Cold Mountain and Glory in quality.

Very rarely can you find a film that honors silence and true pace. Movie-goers have been spoiled in recent years with films that spell it all out. "Wicked Spring" causes you to sit back and relish what time was really like during the Civil War era. Very unique to this film is the first ten minutes. These first ten minutes have caused a great deal of conversation. But what viewers do not realize is that without saying a word, Mr. Hershberger eases the viewer into the past...into an era that was slow and contemplative. The imagery is magnificent. The war is harsh and realistic.

At the heart of Wicked Spring beats the issue of the human condition. Six men meet and transform because of war, because of circumstance, because of survival.

I believe this movie is a "must see". The soundtrack is beautiful as well. To the director...Congratulations on making a beautiful movie on your own terms.

I thought this film was excellent! It showed the complexity of war (in particular the Civil War). With a well-written screenplay, sound acting, beautiful cinematography and effective editing the filmmakers worked together to take you back in time. It helps to get into the characters to fully appreciate the dialogue that makes the movie more realistic. I love the down-to-earth approach taken in producing 'Wicked Spring'.
I especially thought the opener was effective in that there is no dialogue so pay close attention to the two male leads in those scenes. A lot more is happening than first may appear. The scene where the father is saying good-bye to his three daughters is very moving. What a thing it is to leave your home and family to go to war. The sacrifice for all involved is obviously tremendous.
I have seen a lot of civil war movies and I thought this was one of the more realistic ones. The lighting or rather lack of lighting in the night scenes is very effective. And I absolutely loved the natural pauses and simple inferences made during the dialogue between soldiers. There is a rather pivotal scene where two soldiers connect rather than disconnect through reading letters from home. The is the scene that made this movie a notch above the rest. The acting was refreshingly not overacted. Other reviews give more detail. Bottom line, check this one out.
Perhaps those who did not like this film just didn't get it!