Wuthering Heights is the third directorial outing by the Academy Award-winning Emerald Fennell. The film, which is an adaptation of author Emily Brontë’s classic novel of the same name, was released this Valentine’s Day weekend. This marks just the latest in several adaptations made to the story itself. Fennell’s take on the classic is a gorgeous, albeit totally inconsistent movie.
This latest adaptation of Wuthering Heights struggles in trying to balance being both a beautiful romance and a darker, more sexually charged film. Although both elements can fit into the film and have moments where they are used to great effect, it seems as though the film itself does not want to push itself to lean into those directions. This is odd considering one of the many things Fennell’s films are known for is their use of erotic imagery. The romance between Cathy and Heathcliff is filled with tragedy and lust but the film, in its attempt to make audiences want to root for the couple, takes a chunk out of the flawed aspects of their personalities. We get moments of pettiness and vindictiveness from the pair but aside from their affair, we do not get to see too much of the abrasive and punishing parts of their characters. This makes it so that the times Cathy refers to Heathcliff as “savage” and “coldhearted” feel off until we reach the third act. The film must be a beautifully tragic love story but it also wants to commit to the cruel and dark nature of its source material.
However, for its love story, the cast of the film does a great job at helping tell this story despite its flaws. Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi portray the main protagonists, Cathy and Heathcliff, respectively. Robbie, who may be just a bit too old for the role, does a good job portraying the brattier aspects of the character and handles the emotional moments of the film well. Elordi also does a great job at portraying the lust and love he shows for Cathy.
The standouts of the film, however, are supporting characters Nelly, played by Hong Chau and Isabella, played by Alison Oliver. Both roles are portrayed to such a marvelous extent that one can’t take their eyes off either of them as soon as they appear and reappear on screen.
Possibly the biggest draw of the film, however, is its beauty. Although Fennell’s writing may be controversial, her direction of the camera is nothing short of gorgeous. From beginning to end, Wuthering Heights presents itself almost like a gothic fairytale. This matches the spectacular set design, which allows for many shots to stay in the audience’s minds for minutes on end. The costume design of the film also deserves its own shout-out. The flashy and vibrant gowns we see characters like Isabella and Cathy wear are filled with so much detail and beautiful attention. These technical aspects do not just stay within their visuals, however but also in their sound. Artist Charli XCX, who has seen a huge jump in popularity since her album BRAT, played a role in the movie’s soundtrack. So much so that it inspired her own album of the same name as the movie, which was released alongside the film. The movie’s score and soundtrack are very loud and engaging. It manages to make each moment that happens to leave its intended impact.
Overall, Wuthering Heights is a flawed but beautiful movie that struggles with its own source material. As a romance, the film is tragic and deeply engaging, even with its over two-hour runtime. Fennell manages to show off her technical talents behind the scenes and perhaps, given better material and collaborators, has the opportunity for far greater releases as well.
