I need to start off with a confession: I’m not really a movie fan. But, like the rest of the world, my interest was piqued at the promise of Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi playing horny lovers in a stylised adaptation of a book written almost two centuries ago.
Now I’m interested.
Wuthering Heights has courted controversy ever since it was announced in 2024, with many fans questioning why 35-year-old Robbie was cast to play 18-year-old Catherine Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi was playing “dark-skinned” Heathcliff.
The choices were explained away by producers (one of which is Robbie) and director Emerald Fennell who said the movie simply took inspiration from Emily Bronte’s novel.
Quotation marks were introduced to the film’s title to acknowledge this, and the movie would instead use it as a launch pad into a sexy and time period-ambivalent world.
And that’s exactly what the movie is – a blend of old-school romance and modern-day love with a good measure of confusion thrown in.
But, it was the decision of one character that left me truly baffled, and I just can’t stop thinking about it.
Is Wuthering Heights worth the hype?
First, let me quickly dive into what was great about the movie.
Despite initial uncertainty about the two leading actors, all qualms were quickly squashed when the pair appeared on screen together… and it’s not like the press tour didn’t help either.
The Australian pair were engaging throughout and built tension in a way that the audience desperately wanted, and it was totally convincing.
The movie’s anthem Chains of Love by Charli xcx also articulated the emotional arc between Cathy and Heathcliff, setting the tone and the lyrics reaffirming the plot.
And best of all, Fennell’s quirky artistic choices brought humour and portrayed emotion when words weren’t uttered. Some of the most notable moments included a funny close-up of slugs ascending a window, skin-themed wallpaper and the spanking of bread dough.
Let your imagination run wild.
The one character’s decision still haunting me
Without giving away any spoilers, one of the most shocking turn of events in the movie is when a female character continues to say yes when another character promises to treat her badly.
In no uncertain terms, the character explains they will treat her badly (even abysmally) and she agrees to it.
It’s a huge plot moment, and it was met with laughter during the premiere as we all slowly continued to watch the scene play out.
Even later, when the full force of the promise is fulfilled in a shocking way, the majority of the audience found it humorous – even as I was whispering “No!” under my breath.
It left me questioning something I’m not sure was intended.
At what length will women say yes when the promise of attention is on the table?
Even in this movie, set in a time somewhere between Emily Bronte’s 1800s and modern-day, it seems like the answer is a lot. The scene and the reaction from the audience reiterated it.
I’ve grappled with the decision because, ultimately, the character did consent. But the portrayal of a woman choosing to degrade herself, blindly eager to please, made me squirm.
Not one person has mentioned the scene to me since.
So, should you go see Wuthering Heights?
Wuthering Heights will make you laugh, feel somewhat horny, and most definitely disturbed – regardless of whether you agree with that scene or not.
But simply put: yes, this movie is incredible. And that’s quite the statement from someone who isn’t really a movie fan.
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