Film. Because:
- It’s bonkers – Emerald Fennell reminds us what hyperbole means.
- I laughed at the most unexpected things (Isabella is brilliant and the consent scene between her and Heathcliff – memorable).
- The sets (the ‘skin’ room!), the costumes, the bleakness and the lushness combined. Must be seen on the big-screen.
Note: I re-read Wuthering Heights this week, before seeing the film last night. I hadn’t read it since I was in my teens. Wish I could remember what I thought of it then – did I attach the word ‘romantic’ to Cathy and Heathcliff? I certainly didn’t on reading it again. Instead, the words toxic and violent come to mind. It makes MAFS look like fluff.
LOL that video of Suzie Davis is hilarious, thanks for sharing that.
they clearly had such fun creating the film.
I can’t rid my mind of that promotional image of ?Catherine wearing what appears to be a red plastic dress of improbable proportions.
I did use the word hyperbole… 😀
#snicker
Wow, I have just seen the posters at the train station and I was “meh”, but the video about the sets is something else! Definitely not what I had in mind in reading WH many years ago. But your post really tempted me to go and see by myself… on a big screen indeed.
It’s worth seeing for the sets and costumes and crazy details alone. I wish I had seen those Architectural Digest clips before I saw the movie.. tempted to go again, just to track the sets!
That’s what I did today, first read your post and watched the AD clips, and then went to the movies, it was a lot of fun!
The poster seems to be modelled on The Kiss which always screams ‘coercive’ at me!
Well, on second reading of the book, the whole thing is coercive, violent and toxic… and normalised (which fits with the period). However, there is a ‘consent’ scene in the movie that is funny, bizarre but also obviously deliberately overdone (and time-stamps this version of the story very much 2026).
From the trailer I saw, it looks like a soft porn version of the book, and that turned me OFF… BIG TIME. Nope. No thanks. Not for me.
There’s a LOT of suggestion but actually very little sex. Certainly no naked bodies. And the suggestion of sex is, for the most part, the humorous part of the film – the audience was laughing a lot because of the (intentional) ridiculousness and over-the-top treatment. I found that fun but appreciate it’s not for everyone.
This is reassuring – I’m seeing it on Monday and to be honest I wasn’t that keen! I feel encouraged 😀
Go in with an open mind. There were a few WH-purists in my group – two loved the film and the other one said “If I separate it from Wuthering Heights, it’s brilliant.”
Will look forward to your thoughts!
Wuthering Heights does not belong to my favourite books but I might watch the film after seeing your review. Thanks.
I did not enjoy the book on my second-reading at all, so I guess I was open to any interpretation of it – thankfully Fennell’s take on it was a visual feast.
Oh, lovely. Thanks, Kate.
I’m seeing it at the weekend I think although I’m not the hugest fan of Fennell’s films. Glad to hear you enjoyed it,
I think what was interesting was that Fennell has only focused on the Cathy/ Heathcliff part of the story which is really only the first third of the book. And their story doesn’t really have much dialogue or romance (!). Fennell has delivered their story which I think will satisfy some Wuthering Heights fans and infuriate others.
I’m seeing it next Wednesday, glad you enjoyed it because I’m feeling a bit worried!
Just sit back and enjoy the visual – I promise it’s fun! (Don’t get caught up in whether it’s true to the book – it’s not and I think Fennell has been clear about this being her take on WH).
I enjoy ‘out-there’ takes on classics – maybe because I’m an opera fan, and in that world, new productions of the same operas we’ve been listening to for hundreds of years are an exciting thing (same words, same music but new interpretation through sets and costumes).
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