A review of the latest film adaptation of “Wuthering Heights”
I’ve read the dark and dour 1847 Emily Brontë novel and I’ve seen the film adaptations of 1939, 1992 and 2011, so why would I want to view yet another cinematic interpretation of this long and complex work? The main reason is that the writer and director is Emerald Fennell and I was so unsettled by her earlier, controversial film “Saltburn” that I was intrigued to know what she would do with this classic novel.
As I expected, there is nothing subtle about Fennell’s vision. It is visually striking with glorious views of the Yorkshire Moors, endless close ups of the characters, lots of shots through windows and arches, amazing costumes and jewellery for Catherine, and a staggeringly opulent Thrushcross Grange. The sound too is arresting, from even before the first scene, through wind, mist and rain in shot after shot, and a soundtrack dominated by Charli xcx. With Fennell, we expect sex and there’s a lot of it but no nudity. This is a liberal, even fanciful, interpretation of the novel, contrasted with earlier versions that have been much more faithful to the original material.
Perhaps this version will be remembered most for its casting. The Australian Margot Robbie, who plays Catherine, is one of the most beautiful actresses around, but she can act too, and it’s not difficult to imagine a man being mesmerised by her. I was less taken by fellow Australian Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, but Fennell used him in “Saltburn” and his Spanish father possibly gives him the dark look which Brontë ascribed to the character.
The casting for some of the more minor characters is inspired, especially Martin Clunes as Catherine’s father and Hong Chau as the housemaid Nelly (who would have expected a Thai to fill the role but it works wonderfully).
So, in short, a very ambitious work that scores enough to be seen and admired if not loved.