Wuthering Heights
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
We are a long way from Emily Bronte's classic in Emerald Fennell's new adaption of WUTHERING HEIGHTS.
Wild, sexy, funny, tragic and sometimes just bonkers, Fennell's screenplay infuses Gothic romance with a whole lot of modern sensibilities.
Is there some lineage between classic director madman Ken Russell and Emerald?
Margot Robbie is Cathy, stunning, impatient and saddled with a decrepit homestead and an alcoholic father, Mr Earnshaw, well played by Martin Clunes (Shakespeare in Love, Doc Martin). Earnshaw is abusive to his staff, especially a local orphan who he welcomes to their home. That young boy grows up to be Heathcliff, played with plenty of repressed longing by Jacob Elordi (Guillermo Del Toro's "Frankenstein").
We meet Cathy and Heathcliff as kids, where we first see her self-centered attitude and his undying devotion to her. Owen Cooper, who was so brilliant in last year's "Adolesence" is terrific as young Heathcliff.
Once the film progresses and they are played by Robbie & Elordi, we find Cathy longing for some wealthy prince to take her away, and Heathcliff quietly longing for Cathy.
The film is all over the map in its middle section.
Sometimes its a tawdry Harlequin Romance that's laughable in its gothic repression and sexual longing, with Fennell finding every way possible to get Heathcliff shirtless and Cathy clad in something that inspires bodice ripping. The tone is maddening in its uneven approach, but like the aforementioned Russell, Fennell slaps so much style and unique polish to it, it is always seductive.
As Bronte fans know, a wealthy single man buys the property a few miles away and builds a massive mansion. The new neighbor, Edgar, is well played by Shazad Latif (Nautilus). Cathy manages a very goofy first meeting that lands her staying at Edgar's brand new, palatial estate for weeks.
One of the best scenes in the film for me, the one that brought me into the film, was Cathy's return to Wuthering Heights after that time frame, with Heathcliff spying at her from a rooftop. She returns in splendor, having found the life of her dreams.
Ah, but who's the man of her dreams?
The generations of fans of Bronte's classic novel know well what happens next. I remember reading the novel as part of a literature class in school, but have no memory of it now.
I'm fascinated now to discover just how far Fennell's take diverts from the original text.
Some changes are obvious, especially Charli xcx's unexpectedly solid songs added to the soundtrack. She manages to add a great deal to the moody atmospherics of the film. Fennell and Charli are clearly in sync, as the songs weave into all the windswept, rainy clifftops, crumbling castles and gaudy mansions.
Heathcliff's transformation into a man of wealth is handled perfecly by Elordi. He's lately been rumored to be near the top of the list of possible new James Bonds. There were at least four scenes here that made me think, "Yeah, I get it". He could definitely fill the role with style. (Although my personal OO7 pick remains Aaron Taylor-Johnson).
Elordi is a chameleon, emerging as one of the most versatile young actors in today's mix. He's terrific here from start to tragic finish.
This is also one of Robbie's best roles in years, my favorite since her performance as Sharon Tate in "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" in 2019. She IS Cathy, with all her maddening flaws and unbridled passions.
I went into WUTHERING HEIGHTS ready to roll my eyes. That happened, more than once. But Fennell's creative style is intoxicating. Her film bombards all your senses, elevating what could have been a goofy take into a mad take on classic literature that pays homage, while simultaneously tearing it apart and reassembling it into something wholly new.
Those looking to plumb the depths of the characters within need to seek out the original 1847 Bronte novel. Fennell is far more interested in making you feel them.
Fennell's passion for the project is as undeniable as the bind between Cathy & Heathcliff. Doomed gothic romances have rarely been this spirited.
WUTHERING HEIGHTS gets a very surprising B.
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