“Wuthering Heights” is a new film based on Emily Brontë’s novel, a classic love story set in the English countryside, mirroring and contradicting the roles of Victorian romance. Two star-crossed lovers are bound by doomed fate. While fans of the novel should have high hopes for the new film, given its big-name actors Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie, I hated every second of the two and a half hours the movie was playing.
“Wuthering Heights” focuses on the toxic and obsessive relationship between the main characters, Catherine (Margot Robbie) and Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi). The beginning of the film sets up a lot of potential; however, as the movie progresses, it becomes a drag. While the acting itself in the film is great, I was expecting more of an action-filled love story, packed with crazy plot twists and excitement. Instead, the storyline is predictable, boring and degrading; it lacks the enticing factor that keeps your eyes glued to the screen.
This film romanticizes the character Heathcliff’s domesticated and aggressive personality. He was brought into the family home and forced into a servant-like role and, as Catherine and Heathcliff were growing up, they created a deeply emotional dependence on each other, which resulted in mental strains and abandonment once Catherine chose to marry wealthy neighbor Edgar Linton. Heathcliff’s possessiveness is not portrayed as devotion; rather, this film glorifies the jealousy within him.
Within the first 15 minutes of the movie, I could tell what the entire storyline would be without ever reading the book. From early on in the film, it is evident that Catherine would prioritize her social status over love as she stated, “Marrying Heathcliff would degrade her,” before inevitably regretting her choice and running back to Heathcliff, leaving the audience with no room to infer conclusions of their own. It is stupidly predictable that Catherine and Heathcliff are going to have an affair, but it isn’t even entertaining. The continuous sneaking around is pathetic and lame.
The movie is also weird. It is really weird. It includes scenes of one of the female characters being chained up as a dog and barking, while on all fours, in an attempt to show masculinity and dominance.
Catherine’s death is also rushed. Heathcliff has left her, and she wallows in bed for days, sitting there staring out the window and, the next thing you know, she is bleeding out from a miscarriage and dead, covered in slugs. It felt as if the actual story was dragged on for too long and they simply needed to cut the film off.
I am not a fan of Emerald Fennell’s work on “Wuthering Heights,” as she focuses on derogatory remarks and expectations toward women. Fennell is also the producer of another Jacob Elordi movie, “Saltburn,” which I couldn’t even get myself to finish watching. Overall, the production of both of these movies were well done, but the storylines weren’t, and “Wuthering Heights” will not be getting another watch from me.
