By Reshelle Bihasa, Staff Writer 

“Wuthering Heights” is the newest adaptation based on Emily Brontë’s classic Victorian gothic novel, starring critically acclaimed actors Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. 

The story follows two families, the Earnshaws and Lintons, who are separated by social class and wealth. Mr. Earnshaw takes in an orphan, Heathcliff, who becomes inseparable from Catherine, Mr. Earnshaw’s daughter. However, she marries Edgar Linton for his wealth and eventually creates tension in her relationship with Heathcliff, sparking a forbidden romance. 

“Wuthering Heights” is originally a tragedy with themes of obsession, emotional abuse and even includes supernatural elements. The movie portrays the plot as a passionate love story with forbidden love and “star-crossed lovers” tropes. Therefore, the film resembles the “Romeo and Juliet” story more than “Wuthering Heights.”

Those who have read the novel may not enjoy the movie because of the deviations from the book. The movie only focuses on the first half of the story and excludes some aspects and characters, including Catherine’s brother, Hindley. The characters are also much older in the film than they are in the book.

Never having read the book myself, the movie was enjoyable. The cinematography and visuals were stunning, while the landscape gave off an eerie and gothic atmosphere which captured raw emotions and conflict between the characters. Additionally, the costumes were elegant and visually appealing. 

The cinematography of the movie was shot by Oscar-winning cinematographer, Linus Sandgren. He is known from some of his previous films including “La La Land” and “Saltburn.”

One of the main critiques of the film is the writing. The script was poorly written, lacking depth and felt rushed at times. Still, Robbie and Elordi gave exceptional performances with the script they were given. Although the costumes were beautiful, it was difficult to identify the time period in which this film was set. 

The soundtrack was composed of songs by Charli XCX and features other artists including Sky Ferreira and John Cale. Surprisingly, the music blended well with the movie, creating a sinister but passionate feeling. 

The director, Emerald Fennell, also directed “Saltburn” and incorporates similar themes of obsession and exaggeration in both movies. Stylistically, this new work portrays both a gothic and “old money” aesthetic. Furthermore, the star who plays Isabella Linton in “Wuthering Heights,” actress Alison Oliver, is the same actress who played Venetia in “Saltburn.” 

Overall, this movie is disturbing, with extreme visceral closeup scenes; yet it is mesmerizing and hard to look away from. The ending left the audience speechless, but I was still a bit unsatisfied. If you are looking for a heartfelt love story, this is not a movie for you.