The quotations around the title should be a dead giveaway. This fanfiction-esque Emily Brontë adaptation got plenty of eyebrow raises from me. Director, Emerald Fennell, previously recognized for her absurdist and symbolic style in “Saltburn,” which held true within the first five minutes of this film.

In Terms of Directing:

To point out the obvious, there were very notable changes from the book to the movie. The plot follows the lives of Catherine Earnshaw and her adoptive brother, Heathcliff, and their upbringing in the moors of England. This 1847 classic delves into the issues with classism, obsession, and the darkness of the human condition.

Fennel definitely made the obsession clear, with a constant underlying lust between Catherine and Heathcliff. She also did a good job at differentiating social classes.

Yet Fennel did it in a manner which had me uneasy after each scene. The visual elements she chose to incorporate left me feeling nauseous. The shots of the sweat on people’s backs, the use of the color red, and the opening scene in its entirety, all made me want to look away while simultaneously kept me watching.

Charli xcx being the main artist for the movie’s soundtrack was also a bold choice to say the least. I will say in some scenes it worked, such as the opener. However, most of the time when her songs played, it took me out of the moment that was so carefully built up.

In terms of Acting:

Margot Robbie certainly played the part of the brat well (which paired nicely with Charli xcx). There were many complaints regarding Margot Robbie’s age and hair color compared to how Catherine is depicted in the book. Despite clear mistakes made by the casting department, I do believe she did an acceptable job for the role she was given. I will say she’s had better performances, such as her title role in “Barbie,” but I can certainly say she did well. Her depiction of depression almost brought me to tears. Key word: “almost.”

For a majority of the film, Margot Robbie was crying. While I understand this was due to the script she was given, she seemed to lack layers and depth in her sorrow. While she was able to cry on command numerous times, I wasn’t moved by her tears in the slightest. However, when it came to her portrayal of spite, lust, and anger, I felt it from beyond the screen. She had brilliant chemistry with Jacob Elordi, to the point where I wondered if I should leave the theater and give them some privacy.

But of course, that was also because of the fragile masculinity, obsession, and malevolence that oozed throughout Jacob Elordi’s performance. Yes, he is attractive, and that is why a majority of girls my age decided to see this, but he is more than just being 6’5″. Every time he walked into a scene, I was terrified as to what Heathcliff was going to do next. While I do believe they should have stayed true to the book and hired an actor of Romani heritage, Jacob Elordi did a superb job at maintaining the wild animalistic nature of Heathcliff.

Overall:

I would see this movie again, but it isn’t my favorite. The cinematography was remarkable. However, I wouldn’t recommend seeing this with your parents, unless your mom is an English teacher like mine is. 3/5 stars.