Wuthering Heights review by Bobby Blakey
There have been adaptations of the book Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë with the first around 1920. The latest is from Promising Young Woman and Saltburn director Emerald Fennell starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. Could this latest version bring something new to the source material, or will it get lost in the passion of it all?
Wuthering Heights follows Cathy and Heathcliff, whose forbidden passion for one another turns from romantic to intoxicating in an epic tale of lust, love and madness. The film features a great supporting cast including Hong Chau, Shazad Latif, Alison Oliver, Martin Clunes and Ewan Mitchell.
I must be honest I have not read the novel or seen any other versions of this story so it’s a completely new experience for me. I can also reveal I had zero interest in seeing this when the trailers first dropped. After all the hype during awards season decided I needed to give it a chance but hadn’t had the chance until now. I assumed this film was just going to be another period drama love story and it is, but it’s something darker I hadn’t expected.
I was surprised that I found myself more engaged than I thought I would be. The initial story of young Cathy and Heathcliff was well crafted and filled with everything needed for you to understand their journey, relationship, passion and heartbreak. This is seemingly lost as the film jumps in time before eventual return of Heathcliff. Now that isn’t a bad thing as it turns into a passionate story that is filled with some heavy subject matter.
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At times I found the film unbalanced in the story telling, but the fantastic performances and constant change of direction allowed it to find its footing most of the time. There are no real likable characters here as they all lie and cheat on each other that leads to some dark abusive places under the guise of passion and love. I get easily annoyed with films like this with these dysfunctional relationships trying to justify their love. Here it does work on some level but in the end is still an unhealthy mostly depressing story of love and passion that is far from a true love story.
I know I will get push back from hardcore fans of the source material and that is totally fine. Ignoring the frustrations of the so-called love story, this is still a great film filled with perfect performances across the board and all the drama and emotion needed to take it from dark a gloomy period piece to pure cinema.
In addition to the film this release offers bonus content including commentary and featurettes taking you behind bringing this new version to life. Grab your copy of Wuthering Heights available now on digital and then on 4K, Blu-ray and DVD on May 5th from Warner Bros Discovery Home Entertainment.