“Wuthering Heights,” the book to film adaptation of Emily Bronteë’s 1847 classic novel, is a story of death, sexuality, betrayal, and above all, love.
The movie follows Catherine Earnshaw, whose father adopts a boy whom Catherine decides to name Heathcliff. As the two grow older inside their home at Wuthering Heights, their relationship strengthens and breaks in more ways than one.
My favorite part of this film had to be the set design, from the Earnshaw’s family home with dark, gloomy features to the stunning and extremely over-the-top Linton mansion. The Linton’s house, being so vibrant and maximalist, highlighted the shift from her original home next door, showing how even when Catherine was surrounded by everything she had dreamed of, it would never be enough. While some might find the set design over the top, I found myself wanting to pause the movie inside the theatre just to take it all in.
“Wuthering Heights” also did a great job at making its viewers uncomfortable with pouring rain and wind, blood dripping from the bottom of Catherine’s dress and scars littering Heathcliff’s back. These small details make viewers hold their breath, and the violent introduction alone highlights both death and sexuality, showing us the plot of the film before we even meet the main characters.
Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi play the two leading roles, which sparked controversy for fans of Bronteë’s original novel, according to Forbes. Heathcliff was depicted as a person of color in the original text, calling into question the morals of casting Elordi as the leading man. Heathcliff’s racial identity does play a role in his experience as an outsider, from his adoption to the end of the story.
While this film did spark controversy, especially for book readers, it still had the ability to captivate those who knew nothing about Catherine and Heathcliff when entering the theatre. Through uncomfortable obscurity, “Wuthering Heights” allowed its viewers to live through Cathy, experiencing her ups and downs alongside her while feeling her emotions through the music and sets.
