Film Review: "Wuthering Heights"

Welcome back to the blog readers. Romantic films are a kind of film that I could never really get into all that much because they are almost all predictable. Each film in the genre almost feels like a glorified Lifetime film with their campy and unoriginal nature. Hearing about this film's release really confused me, because I do not recall ever really needing to see another adaptation of the novel, but alas, here we are. Given what we got, would the film at least be enjoyable? Stick around to find out.

"Wuthering Heights" was written and directed by Emerald Fennell, based on the 1847 novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. The film stars Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi, Hong Chau, Shazad Latif, Alison Oliver, Martin Clunes, Owen Cooper, and Ewan Mitchell. The film chronicles the tumultuous relationship between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, from their initial meeting as children to their rough adult relationship.

The main reason I was confused when I heard this film was coming out was because I thought this kind of material was too good for director Emerald Fennell, whose debut film Promising Young Woman (2020) was damn good. Nonetheless, I went into this film with a bit of optimism, and the first thing I saw being an erect dead man let me know what I was in for. Not only is this film dull, it is mind-numbingly boring. While there are some things I like in this film (notably the performance of Margot Robbie, the cinematography, and the music), almost everything else is questionable at best.

I want to start by talking about the performance of Margot Robbie. Robbie is one of the best actors in the world right now, and her multiple Academy Award (and other award) nominations speak for themselves. From Harley Quinn to Tonya Harding, Sharon Tate to literally Barbie, Robbie has been a prevalent voice in the business. But taking on the role of Catherine "Cathy" Earnshaw/Linton was going to be a different kind of beast. I am mainly on the fence regarding her performance, but i am bordering on liking it because of the sheer devotion to the character she has taken on. Everything from the heartbreak to the deep love is expertly crafted into a complex and misunderstood character that Robbie excels in creating.

The next thing I want to talk about in this film is the cinematography. Linus Sandgren is the man behind the camera for this film, and his frequent collaborations with Damian Chazelle (La La Land (2016), First Man (2018), and Babylon (2022)) and David O. Russell (American Hustle (2013), Joy (2015), and Amsterdam (2022)) and his upcoming effort on Dune: Part Three (2026) have prepared him for some of the most gorgeous shots you will see all year. From wide shots to close-ups, he is able to use natural lighting in some shots to make you feel close to these characters. Even the shots of sexy time (which I am not even the biggest fan of seeing in my media) feel intimate and personal thanks to his camera choices.

The final thing I want to talk about in this film would have to do with the music. Anthony Willis (who has scored Emerald Fennell's previous films Promising Young Woman and Saltburn (2023)) is the man with the wand, and his score is equal parts dark and haunting. He also brings a regality to the score in certain places where it is demanded, and he brings a level of professionalism that is rarely seen in the business by people of his stature. I cannot believe I am about to say this, but the songs of Charlotte Aitchison (aka Charli XCX) were absolutely stunning. Her songs are just as dark as the score by Willis, and the lyrics reflect the brooding nature of the film. The songs that really stood out to me were "House" (featuring John Cale), "Dying for You," "Chains of Love," and "Funny Mouth" (cowritten by Joe Keery). There is a real chance that one of these songs could be nominated for Best Original Song at next year's Oscars.

Unfortunately, that is where the positives with this film end. The biggest problem I have with it is that the film is just so boring. Not only that, but the story that we get absolutely makes no sense from a logical standpoint. I will give some spoilers for this film, so do not read ahead if you do not want to know what happens. So basically the entire relationship between Cathy and Heathcliff is based off of...misunderstandings? I find it crazy that he is upset that she will no longer have a sexual affair with him so he decides to treat Isabella like total dogshit to get back at her. Willing participant or not, that is degrading to both women in every sense of the word. And the whole reason he was upset at her to begin with? Because he overheard Cathy say that it would degrade her to marry him. And I like Hong Chau as an actor, but her character of Nelly was fucking annoying as shit. Same with Isabella, her voice was like nails on a chalkboard annoying. And then, to top it all off, she winds up kicking the bucket leaving him all sad and lonely. Serves you right, you clueless clown.

In conclusion, "Wuthering Heights" may have some bright lights buried underneath its dreary and dull adaptation of the classic novel, but it is not enough to save it from being unmemorable. Thank you all for reading, and I will see you for the next post.