Wicked Spring
Encyclopedia
Wicked Spring is a 2002 war drama film directed, produced, and written by Kevin Hershberger. The film focuses on a Confederate soldier in 1864, Harrison Bolding (Brian Merrick), lost in the Battle of the Wilderness
at night with two other soldiers from his company. The three meet another trio of Union soldiers that night, but don't realize it until the next morning, while trapped between Union and Confederate defenses.
Wicked Spring had a budget of an estimated $500,000, but was never shown in theaters.
. As the fighting wears down and night begins to fall, Bolding and two other soldiers, James Hogg (Terry Jernigan) and After Stand Kennerly (Aaron Jackson
) get separated from their company and become lost in the thick woods. They happen to run into three other soldiers, John Sunderlin (DJ Perry
), Augustus Elliot (Curtis Hall), and Pietro Brolo (Mark Lacy) without realizing they are on the opposite side in the darkness of the night. The six weary men socialize by the campfire, telling stories and sharing any food they have left.
When the sun rises the next morning, the soldiers now realize they come from different sides of the battlefield. As tensions grow, they are also stuck in between the rest of the Confederate and Union soldiers, approaching each other. The two sides come closer and closer, before firing simultaneously. The barrage of fire kills all the men, ending the movie.
and Orange County, Virginia
. While all filming was shot in Virginia, none was shot at the real battle site.
Battle of the Wilderness
The Battle of the Wilderness, fought May 5–7, 1864, was the first battle of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Virginia Overland Campaign against Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Both armies suffered heavy casualties, a harbinger of a bloody war of attrition by...
at night with two other soldiers from his company. The three meet another trio of Union soldiers that night, but don't realize it until the next morning, while trapped between Union and Confederate defenses.
Wicked Spring had a budget of an estimated $500,000, but was never shown in theaters.
Plot
The movie starts off in 1861 with the protagonist Harrison Bolding (Brian Merrick) bidding farewell to his wife before heading off to war. The movie then fast forwards to 1864, during the Battle of the WildernessBattle of the Wilderness
The Battle of the Wilderness, fought May 5–7, 1864, was the first battle of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Virginia Overland Campaign against Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Both armies suffered heavy casualties, a harbinger of a bloody war of attrition by...
. As the fighting wears down and night begins to fall, Bolding and two other soldiers, James Hogg (Terry Jernigan) and After Stand Kennerly (Aaron Jackson
Aaron Jackson
Aaron Jackson is an American actor. He is most noted for his role as Mark Winkle in the NBC series California Dreams, between 1994 and 1996.-Filmography:-External links:...
) get separated from their company and become lost in the thick woods. They happen to run into three other soldiers, John Sunderlin (DJ Perry
DJ Perry
DJ Perry is an American actor, film producer, and screenwriter.- Career :A graduate of Michigan State University, as CEO of Collective Development Inc. and former Vice-President of Lionheart Filmworks he has overseen or assisted in the overall production of over 20 feature films in various genres...
), Augustus Elliot (Curtis Hall), and Pietro Brolo (Mark Lacy) without realizing they are on the opposite side in the darkness of the night. The six weary men socialize by the campfire, telling stories and sharing any food they have left.
When the sun rises the next morning, the soldiers now realize they come from different sides of the battlefield. As tensions grow, they are also stuck in between the rest of the Confederate and Union soldiers, approaching each other. The two sides come closer and closer, before firing simultaneously. The barrage of fire kills all the men, ending the movie.
Cast
- Brian Merrick as Harrison Bolding
- Terry Jernigan as James Hogg
- Aaron JacksonAaron JacksonAaron Jackson is an American actor. He is most noted for his role as Mark Winkle in the NBC series California Dreams, between 1994 and 1996.-Filmography:-External links:...
as After Stand Kennerly - DJ PerryDJ PerryDJ Perry is an American actor, film producer, and screenwriter.- Career :A graduate of Michigan State University, as CEO of Collective Development Inc. and former Vice-President of Lionheart Filmworks he has overseen or assisted in the overall production of over 20 feature films in various genres...
as John Sunderlin - Curtis Hall as Augustus Elliot
- Mark Lacy as Pietro Brolo
- Rebecca Lawlor as Parthenia Sunderlin
- Lindsey Ingram as Virginia Gordon
Production
The Wilderness took place in SpotsylvaniaSpotsylvania County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 90,395 people, 31,308 households, and 24,639 families residing in the county. The population density was 226 people per square mile . There were 33,329 housing units at an average density of 83 per square mile...
and Orange County, Virginia
Orange County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,881 people, 10,150 households, and 7,470 families residing in the county. The population density was 76 people per square mile . There were 11,354 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
. While all filming was shot in Virginia, none was shot at the real battle site.
Filming locations
- Fort PickettFort PickettFort Pickett, Virginia, is a Virginia Army National Guard installation, located near the town of Blackstone, Virginia. It is named for the United States Army officer and Confederate General George Pickett.- Beginnings :...
(Blackstone, VA) - Frontier Culture Museum of VirginiaFrontier Culture Museum of VirginiaThe Frontier Culture Museum, located in Staunton, Virginia is a living history museum that tells the story of the people who migrated from the Old World to America and the life they created in the Shenandoah Valley...
(Staunton, VA) - Petersburg, VA
- Science Museum of VirginiaScience Museum of VirginiaThe Science Museum of Virginia is a science museum located in Richmond, Virginia.-History:In 1906, the Virginia General Assembly approved funds for the construction of a simple "exhibits center" to display mineral and timber exhibits being assembled for the Jamestown Exposition of 1907. After the...
(Richmond, VA) - VMIVirginia Military InstituteThe Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
(Lexington, VA)