Wuthering Heights Review
Sumptuous and incredible looking, but a somewhat hollow and fantastical literary adaptation from Emerald Fennell.
Cathy (Margot Robbie) and Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi) embark on an irresistible and toxic romance, as Cathy tries to turn the fortunes of her failing household around, and Heathcliff seeks his own revenge on the woman he believes spurned him.
Fennell, whose irreprisible and sexy Saltburn was acerbically witty and remarkably gorgeous, takes the same paintbrush to one of history's greatest works - but to another level. And while her work remains undeniably gorgeous, the excessive lack of subtlety, incessant sexuality, and complete lack of nuance, leads to somewhat of a hollow watch.
Robbie and Elordi are both strong in their respective roles, although Robbie certainly brings a level of maturity to her performance that shines through in the small moments. The supporting cast comes and goes, but Alison Oliver is a true standout as Isabella Linton; bringing some true depravity in moments, and an oddly creepy vibe in the Linton mansion.
Indeed, it is that depraved moment that perhaps speaks to what this film could have been. When Nelly (Hong Chau) visits Heathcliff and Isabella at Wuthering Heights, only to find a tied up Isabella serving Heathcliff, the film touches on a more obvious, depraved, and toxic kind of sexual energy than previously. It’s a change in pace for a film that tries to bring every ounce of romance out of the source text. And while there have been rumblings about the film skipping the back half of its novel inspiration, and not being true to the text, a lot of that to me feels a little unimportant in the discussion.
What is more important is how the film feels, and how engaging it is. In this one scene at Wuthering Heights, with Isabella and Heathcliff stumbled upon by a horrified Nelly, Fennell showcases a darker tone that this film could have taken - and it's one that perhaps feels a little more natural, a little more engaging, than what the rest of the film is. The Linton household feels ‘Barbie-fied’, but in this one scene not only do Elordi and Oliver feel a lot more believable, but the film feels a lot more engaging and engrossing.
Outside of the tone issues and some performance niggles, the technical craft is impeccable. Some shots are so beautiful they’ll make you gasp. The costuming, art direction, cinematography and set decoration are remarkable, and while the score can never match, the visuals really carry this film through.
At the end of the day, this is a sugar hit of a sexy literary adaptation that doesn’t come close to being as compelling or insightful as prior adaptations of this same text, but nevertheless gives you a real thrill in the theatre.
