“Sure, there’s some BDSM play, and some anachronistic costumes and set design, but other than that it feels almost faithful to the spirit of its source material, even if (as in most adaptations) there’s some narrative omissions and redirects.” its always so interesting how conveniently these reviews blatantly ignore the whitewashing in favor of “inaccurate costume” complaints
"Which brings us to the film’s MVP: Jacob Elordi’s tongue. It’s doing some of the craziest shit I’ve ever seen in this movie." needs to be one of those movie review quotes that used to be slapped on film trailers in the 90s. Fantastic work
You write beautifully, but it feels like you either didn’t read the book carefully or are being deliberately obtuse. The spirit of the novel is not intact because Fennell completely gutted it.
Mr. Earnshaw is supposed to love Heathcliff. That relationship is crucial—it’s the only genuine affection Heathcliff receives in the entire story. But Fennell strips that away by transplanting Hindley’s traits onto Mr. Earnshaw, effectively erasing the one good bond Heathcliff ever had.
Then she turns Isabella—Edgar’s sister, who in the book is naïve, loving, and ultimately abused by Heathcliff—into a shallow villain. That’s not reinterpretation; that’s distortion.
And as if that weren’t enough, she tries to convince us that Catherine and Heathcliff are some tragic couple we should root for. They’re not. They’re two deeply damaged people who should be in therapy.
I love the book, but it is not a love story. It’s not romantic. And it’s definitely not whatever brain-rotted version of “love” Fennell is trying to sell.
I completely agree. However, in the film they aren’t portrayed as obvious red flags, and Heathcliff is not shown as an abuser. Instead, Fennell reframes many of the harmful things he does as BDSM, which I find concerning.
I was disappointed to see the tag of the trailer was something like “the greatest love story ever told”. This is Hollywood fetishising abusive relationships and calling it romantic. I have three daughters and this concerns me a lot.
I have a baby girl, who will be one this February, and it also concerns me that Hollywood and people in general (especially people who should know and do better) don’t realize how awful is to “adapt” a book with abusive characters and make them more palatable to forward a narrative about bdsm and desire. I don’t think bdsm is bad but abuse and bdsm are certainly not the same thing and I wonder if people will read the book after watching the movie and think it is.
Oh congratulations on your little girl! And happy birthday to her! Well I was one of those people you describe! I first read the book after watching a tv adaptation thinking it was a romance when I was young. It’s only now in my late 30s I’m re-reading it with a mother’s eye and couldn’t believe I ever thought it was a romance!! So I was definitely duped into believing abuse was romance. I will definitely be reading this with my daughters when they’re old enough but NOT as a romance haha!
The first time I read it was in high school and I also thought it was a romance. Then I read two years later in college in a completely different light. It’s a great book but it is definitely a cautionary tale about violence and intergenerational trauma and if it’s possible to break that cycle.
Mr Earnshaw’s affections aren’t the only Heathcliff receives? What about Cathy’s affections? Nelly was unkind to him at first (like Cathy) but after she nurses him back to health after his measles she is a strong defender of Heathcliff, unless he needed a telling off (which was often). Hareton also was a staunch defender of Heathcliff and wouldn’t hear a bad word said about him and Heathcliff knew this. I haven’t seen the film yet but I do think it’s a huge shame that Mr Earnshaw’s character has been changed so radically ☹️
I would say that Nelly and Hareton were fond of Heathcliff and were not unkind to him, but I feel that Mr. Earnshaw was the one who truly mattered most. He was the one who rescued Heathcliff from the streets and wanted to give him a family and an education. After Mr. Earnshaw’s death and Hindley’s return, losing that father figure must have been heartbreaking. I think that loss plays a crucial role in deepening Heathcliff’s desire for revenge.
I agree that Mr Earnshaw’s relationship is foundational to Heathcliff. I also think it’s strange that Mr Earnshaw was so kind to Heathcliff compared with his own children. He wasn’t a good father to either of them. He told Cathy when she misbehaved he couldn’t love her(??!!) yet his love for Heathcliff was unwavering, seemingly regardless of how Heathcliff behaved.
I didn’t say they had to be identical. But if there’s barely anything left of the source material, why call it an adaptation or interpretation at all?
I’ve seen the movie, and visually it’s stunning. I also loved the new “Isabella” — even though she’s not really Isabella anymore, but this strange, hilarious character who completely steals the spotlight from everyone else.
That said, as an adaptation — even a loose one — it’s atrocious. And unfortunately, I don’t think it fully works on its own either. I gave it two stars: one for the cinematography, and one for Isabella, my girl.
Darling, I think you dropped the #sponsored tag here on the floor...
I'm really hoping to be so enthralled by their performance that they make me forget all about Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi
“Sure, there’s some BDSM play, and some anachronistic costumes and set design, but other than that it feels almost faithful to the spirit of its source material, even if (as in most adaptations) there’s some narrative omissions and redirects.” its always so interesting how conveniently these reviews blatantly ignore the whitewashing in favor of “inaccurate costume” complaints
i was already excited to watch this, now this review has me on the edge of my seat! I'm getting my tickets NOW
"Which brings us to the film’s MVP: Jacob Elordi’s tongue. It’s doing some of the craziest shit I’ve ever seen in this movie." needs to be one of those movie review quotes that used to be slapped on film trailers in the 90s. Fantastic work
'At one point, the internet this Wuthering Heights would be filtered through the dreams of a contemporary woman.' huh?
My thoughts exactly.
You write beautifully, but it feels like you either didn’t read the book carefully or are being deliberately obtuse. The spirit of the novel is not intact because Fennell completely gutted it.
Mr. Earnshaw is supposed to love Heathcliff. That relationship is crucial—it’s the only genuine affection Heathcliff receives in the entire story. But Fennell strips that away by transplanting Hindley’s traits onto Mr. Earnshaw, effectively erasing the one good bond Heathcliff ever had.
Then she turns Isabella—Edgar’s sister, who in the book is naïve, loving, and ultimately abused by Heathcliff—into a shallow villain. That’s not reinterpretation; that’s distortion.
And as if that weren’t enough, she tries to convince us that Catherine and Heathcliff are some tragic couple we should root for. They’re not. They’re two deeply damaged people who should be in therapy.
I love the book, but it is not a love story. It’s not romantic. And it’s definitely not whatever brain-rotted version of “love” Fennell is trying to sell.
Cathy would have benefitted from therapy. Heathcliff should be in jail.
I completely agree. However, in the film they aren’t portrayed as obvious red flags, and Heathcliff is not shown as an abuser. Instead, Fennell reframes many of the harmful things he does as BDSM, which I find concerning.
I was disappointed to see the tag of the trailer was something like “the greatest love story ever told”. This is Hollywood fetishising abusive relationships and calling it romantic. I have three daughters and this concerns me a lot.
I have a baby girl, who will be one this February, and it also concerns me that Hollywood and people in general (especially people who should know and do better) don’t realize how awful is to “adapt” a book with abusive characters and make them more palatable to forward a narrative about bdsm and desire. I don’t think bdsm is bad but abuse and bdsm are certainly not the same thing and I wonder if people will read the book after watching the movie and think it is.
Oh congratulations on your little girl! And happy birthday to her! Well I was one of those people you describe! I first read the book after watching a tv adaptation thinking it was a romance when I was young. It’s only now in my late 30s I’m re-reading it with a mother’s eye and couldn’t believe I ever thought it was a romance!! So I was definitely duped into believing abuse was romance. I will definitely be reading this with my daughters when they’re old enough but NOT as a romance haha!
The first time I read it was in high school and I also thought it was a romance. Then I read two years later in college in a completely different light. It’s a great book but it is definitely a cautionary tale about violence and intergenerational trauma and if it’s possible to break that cycle.
Mr Earnshaw’s affections aren’t the only Heathcliff receives? What about Cathy’s affections? Nelly was unkind to him at first (like Cathy) but after she nurses him back to health after his measles she is a strong defender of Heathcliff, unless he needed a telling off (which was often). Hareton also was a staunch defender of Heathcliff and wouldn’t hear a bad word said about him and Heathcliff knew this. I haven’t seen the film yet but I do think it’s a huge shame that Mr Earnshaw’s character has been changed so radically ☹️
I would say that Nelly and Hareton were fond of Heathcliff and were not unkind to him, but I feel that Mr. Earnshaw was the one who truly mattered most. He was the one who rescued Heathcliff from the streets and wanted to give him a family and an education. After Mr. Earnshaw’s death and Hindley’s return, losing that father figure must have been heartbreaking. I think that loss plays a crucial role in deepening Heathcliff’s desire for revenge.
I agree that Mr Earnshaw’s relationship is foundational to Heathcliff. I also think it’s strange that Mr Earnshaw was so kind to Heathcliff compared with his own children. He wasn’t a good father to either of them. He told Cathy when she misbehaved he couldn’t love her(??!!) yet his love for Heathcliff was unwavering, seemingly regardless of how Heathcliff behaved.
the book version and the movie version are never the same. it’s silly to think of them as the same piece
I didn’t say they had to be identical. But if there’s barely anything left of the source material, why call it an adaptation or interpretation at all?
I’ve seen the movie, and visually it’s stunning. I also loved the new “Isabella” — even though she’s not really Isabella anymore, but this strange, hilarious character who completely steals the spotlight from everyone else.
That said, as an adaptation — even a loose one — it’s atrocious. And unfortunately, I don’t think it fully works on its own either. I gave it two stars: one for the cinematography, and one for Isabella, my girl.
Actually, nothing compares to Juliette Binoche performance… imo❣️
I have a rule i live by that 99% of the time is working: if the movie poster is bad then the film will be. In that case, it’s so bad.
Your review seems to have ruffled feathers but I enjoyed the read. The movie, to me, isn't anywhere near Titanic and is average at best.
All the reviews make me think I’m better off sticking to the book
MVP for sure - That tongue was it's own character....worth a cinema visit for sure !
The ignoring of the whitewashing in the film in this review is insane.
The tongue!!!
Totally agree - loved it
i appreciate your candid review!! your writing is so beautiful. i was captivated the entire read!