Theater has always played a big role in my life. My little sister loves movies and basically forces me to watch them, not that I am complaining. If I am being honest, I love it. That exciting feeling when you watch a great film and the dread when you leave the theater afterwards because it means leaving a world you were so immersed in, even if only for a fleeting moment.
When it came to Wuthering Heights, I did not know what to expect. I went in relatively blind, only having seen some previews and heard criticism about the character inaccuracies. Still, with Jacob Elordi playing Heathcliff and Margot Robbie as Catherine, I could not help but feel excited.
Overall, I rate the film a 7.9 out of 10. My expectations were considerable because Elordi and Robbie were cast in the leading roles. These two amazing actors were brought together to adapt a renowned literary work, culminating in eager anticipation.
While the production proved strong, certain scenes felt unnecessarily long, especially at the beginning. I felt myself impatiently waiting for Heathcliff to at last transform from an overlooked outsider to a wealthy gentleman.
Once that transformation did occur, however, the story gained momentum. When Catherine finally embraced her feelings for Heathcliff, the tension grew. Although Catherine was married, her love for Heathcliff prevailed. Their connection felt far from romantic — it was obsessive, destructive and primarily impulsive. The theme of toxicity often felt unexpected. Sporadically, Heathcliff would act like a masochist, while Catherine’s capricious behavior and the characters’ flagrant choices added to the film’s ominous mood.
Catherine and Heathcliff were marked by separation and reunion, creating a whirlpool of emotions. The audience around me, as much as the characters themselves, never really knew what to expect. The characters were arbitrary and erratic, leading to chaos and morally questionable decisions, adding to the plot’s darker tone. Despite the volatility, the chemistry between the two was undeniable.
Truly, the choice of Elordi as Heathcliff could not have been better; he is a highly compelling actor, which helped drive the emotionally charged plot. Similarly, Robbie is a fan-favorite, and with her impulsivity and charisma, she carried out the role flawlessly.
Ultimately, Catherine and Heathcliff’s love for each other was ruinous. It could be compared to a satirical Romeo and Juliet, stripped of the innocent romance and replaced with toxic devotion and a messy emotional unraveling.
The drama keeps the plot captivating, but the drawn-out beginning and unfortunate ending bear responsibility for the rating not reaching an 8.
