I have never read the book, or seen any other adaptation of Wuthering Heights, might extent of knowledge before this film started marketing was the Kate Bush song. However, I have seen both of Emerald Fennell’s previous feature length films, Saltburn and Promising Young Woman, both which I really enjoyed, and I like Fennell’s style and it works for me.

The film still follows similar beats to the book. When a young boy, who gets named Heathcliff, is taken in by Mr Earnshaw (Martin Clunes), he becomes friends with Earnshaw’s daughter, Cathy. They grow up as close friends, and are always drawn to each other. However, once Cathy decides to marry the wealthy, Mr Linton, Heathcliff disappears, before suddenly returning years later, complicating Cathy’s marriage.

There was a lot of discourse once the trailer was released about just how sexual Emerald Fennell had made this adaptation, from what I what I understand about the book it’s very different, and does have aspects of tension but Heathcliff and Cathy only kiss like twice, rather than the sex montage that happens in this film. Fennell spoke about what she’s produced as an adaptation of what she imagined when she was reading the book, and I don’t hate that idea especially of a classic novel. It’s also not something new, we’ve seen it before multiples times with Shakespeare adaptations like Romeo + Juliet or The Lion King. Unless any adaptation goes out of their way to make it 100% like what it’s adapting, then there’s going to be differences, so why not make it more unique and memorable, by doing it’s own thing, and help audiences to separate it from the original and see it as it’s own thing.

So does it work? I think for the most part it does. I was sat watching it and honestly wondered why people were so disappointed by it. Again, I have no attachment to the source material so I could go into this film with a completely blank slate, which probably helps. The first half of the film I really enjoyed, I was engaged with the performances and the story. Particularly when Cathy and Heathcliff where children, we’ve already seen what Owen Cooper can do in Adolescence, but Charlotte Mellington did a good job too, and helped bring innocence and naivety to the character. Where the film faulters for me (and this might be the same in the book), is most of what happens after Heathcliff returns into Cathy’s life. There isn’t too much explanation on why he is the way he is, and both the characters particularly just spend a lot of time moping around without advancing the plot much. The characters both just become more unlikeable as they try and get away with everything behind Mr Linton’s back, playing their games. It just doesn’t work, and drags the film down heavily.

Margot Robbie often becomes a producer on a lot of her films, and wants to be involved as possible. She clearly enjoys that role, and I think it does seem to help her, this is the 5th time in her career she has had a producer credit in a film she’s been in. I can imagine it probably helps her lock into her performance, and makes her care much more about the film, and delve into the world. She’s a two time Oscar nominee for her performances in I,Tonya and Bombshell, she’s always fantastic and delivers no matter the film she’s in.

Jacob Elordi had a difficult job. His role as Heathcliff was always covered in controversy as the character, is not white in the book, but again if we take away that comparison to the original text, Elordi does a decent job. I think he really suited the dialogue, I imagine Fennell wrote her adapation with Elordi in mind for the role as well which helps. He recently became an Oscar nominated actor, for his role as Frankenstein’s monster in Frankenstein, and worked with Fennell in her previous film, Saltburn, where again he delivered a great performance. He also still has a big year ahead with Euphoria S3 about 2 months away, he’s also starring in Ridley Scott’s next film, The Dog Stars, alongside Margaret Qualley and Josh Brolin, and, if the rumours are to be believed, he’s been offered the role as the next James Bond.

Technically I think the film is very good. I really like a lot of aspects that make up the film. The film has gorgeous cinematography from Oscar winner Linus Sandgren (who is taking over the cinematography reins for Dune: Part 3), making great use of vibrant sets and costumes and wide landscapes. I think the sets and the world have real character, and help add to the fantasy tone that the film flirts the line of. The only thing that doesn’t overly work is the costume design, specifically Cathy’s dresses, which some look like Margot Robbie just walked off a red carpet for Barbie.

Overall, if you look at the film as a separate entity from the original book. It has strong performances, and a unique style which helps separate it from feeling like a generic adaptation we’ve seen countless of down the years. It’s certainly not perfect, but there’s a lot to like which make will make it one of the most talked about films of the year, for good or for bad.

What did you think of Wuthering Heights?

The film season is starting to ramping, I have 1 more review to do from my most recent cinema day, and will likely have another cinema day during the week. We also have the BAFTA awards on Sunday to look forward to with an appearance from Paddington! But to be sure not to miss my latest reviews, and to keep up to date with the latest news from the film and TV world, follow @floodersfilms or press the buttons below!

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