‘Wuthering Heights’ Review: A Timeless Classic Gets an Update

I’ll admit it – I’m not much of a literary person. I’ve never read Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, or even watched any of the movie versions. To me, Heathcliff is just a name I associate with a striped orange cat. So, when I went to see Emerald Fennell’s new take on the story, I wasn’t worried about how closely it followed the book. And after looking into it a bit, I suspect fans who care a lot about staying true to the original might be surprised by some of Fennell’s decisions. Personally, I didn’t have any issues with them.

Fennel’s adaptation of Wuthering Heights is a visually arresting and intensely passionate film, marked by dramatic choices in every aspect of its production. Everyone involved clearly committed fully to the project. The film boasts vivid colors, opulent costumes, and a powerful score, while stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi deliver a raw and physically charged performance, full of intense intimacy.

This movie is so focused on intense emotions that it makes you wonder about practical details – like why the characters don’t bother shielding themselves from the rain! They’re too lost in their longing to even notice getting soaked. (Interestingly, umbrellas first became common in England around the year 1700.)

This story centers on Cathy, the only surviving child of Mr. Earnshaw, who lives at the imposing Wuthering Heights—a house that resembles an ancient stone temple. Mr. Earnshaw also takes in Heathcliff, a young boy he finds suffering on the streets of Liverpool. Though Mr. Earnshaw struggles with anger and alcohol, he hopes to give Heathcliff a better life. As Cathy and Heathcliff grow up, they form a deep bond, despite the Earnshaw family treating Heathcliff as a servant. Heathcliff is fiercely protective of Cathy, and by the time he becomes the imposing figure played by Elordi, his back bears the scars of many whippings he endured at the hands of Cathy’s father while defending her.

Cathy is immediately drawn to the rugged Heathcliff, frequently admiring his physique while he works at Wuthering Heights. Their attraction intensifies after witnessing a private moment between two servants, leading to secret encounters on the moors. However, the arrival of the wealthy and charming Edgar Linton complicates things. He quickly falls for Cathy and proposes, forcing her to choose between following her passionate feelings for Heathcliff and securing her family’s future with a financially advantageous marriage. While marrying for money would solve her family’s problems, Cathy struggles with what her heart truly desires – and Heathcliff’s impressive physical presence certainly doesn’t make the decision any easier.

The promotional photos for this film should give you a sense of how much attention was paid to the visual details of Wuthering Heights. From the atmospheric, foggy cinematography by Linus Sandgren to the elaborate sets designed by Suzie Davies and the striking costumes by Jacqueline Durran, everything feels carefully considered. You could write entire articles just about the use of the color red, which appears on Cathy’s clothes in subtle ways – first as a stain from pig blood, then gradually taking over her more elegant dresses as her life changes. It’s easy for a film to become too visually dramatic, but Wuthering Heights – with choices like flesh-toned wallpaper (complete with moles!) – successfully uses a bold, heightened style to match the intense emotions of the actors.

Let’s be real, people aren’t going to Wuthering Heights for how it looks. We’re all here for the connection between Robbie and Elordi – the chemistry just leaps off the screen! There are so many beautiful, intimate scenes, and the original songs by Charli XCX really add to the mood. Both actors are fantastic, but I was especially captivated by Robbie. She plays Cathy with this calm exterior, but you can feel the struggle and passion underneath, like she’s barely holding it all together. It’s truly compelling.

Jacob Elordi faces a more challenging role as Heathcliff, who shifts between being a gentle lover and a cruel figure. Elordi subtly portrays this duality through his voice – a low, rumbling tone that feels both alluring and intimidating. There’s a memorable scene where he dramatically lifts Robbie’s character into the air, which is likely to become iconic. The film’s pace slows down a bit after Heathcliff leaves Wuthering Heights, mirroring the emotional state of Cathy at that time, though it’s unclear if this dip in energy is intentional.

Even without knowing much about Wuthering Heights beyond a quick look at Wikipedia, this film felt most similar to Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn – another story exploring themes of wealth, social class, and the pain of unrequited affection, particularly when it involves Jacob Elordi and his amazing hair. Despite being set in different eras, both of Fennell’s films portray high society as a captivating but ultimately inescapable situation.

I definitely prefer Wuthering Heights. It’s visually and aurally stunning, blends its passionate love story with unexpected moments of humor—like that bizarre wallpaper!—and feels incredibly self-assured, much like its brooding, romantic hero. I might not have the most refined taste, but I know what I like.

RATING: 7/10

Essential Movies on Netflix Every Film Lover Should See

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

While Netflix has a lot of content, it doesn’t have many classic or historically important films. One notable exception is George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, a groundbreaking horror movie about a zombie outbreak. Beyond the zombies themselves, the film is significant because Romero made it independently and it became a huge success, marking a turning point in independent filmmaking.

The Sting (1973)

Often considered even better than Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting is a captivating yet bittersweet film about two con artists. Robert Redford plays a young grifter who enlists the help of veteran hustler Paul Newman to avenge the murder of his friend by a ruthless mobster, played by Robert Shaw. The film features excellent performances from all three leads and is filled with clever twists and turns, though it also poignantly portrays the isolation of life during the Depression. The Sting won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1973 and remains a classic of 1970s Hollywood cinema.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

The 1974 horror film that started a long-running series was recently added to the Library of Congress’s collection in 2024 because of its lasting impact on culture, history, and art. (A documentary about the film, called Chain Reactions, was also released that year.) If you only know the sequels or remakes – many of which aren’t very good – now is the time to watch the original, which is a bloody, brutal, and beautifully made film, on Netflix.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

While Pulp Fiction may not be the most copied film of the 1990s today, it was hugely influential for a time. The fact that so many attempts to copy it were unsuccessful highlights just how talented Quentin Tarantino is, both then and now.

Pulp Fiction is a strange mix of things that shouldn’t really fit together. It’s both a grand story about crime in Los Angeles and an intimate look at its characters. It jumps between the wildly fantastical – like mysterious briefcases and secret clubs – and the everyday, with conversations about simple things like foot rubs and international fast food. It’s epic and small-scale, funny and sad, violent and cartoonish. That’s what makes it Pulp Fiction.

Titanic (1997)

James Cameron’s most famous films consistently blend several key ingredients: a love story, large-scale action, exciting pursuits, and a complex relationship with technology. While Titanic isn’t as explosively action-packed as films like The Terminator or Avatar, it still embodies all of these classic Cameron themes. It was a massive undertaking – and a huge success – for its time, and it’s clear why. Cameron excels at keeping the story grounded in relatable characters, even when surrounded by spectacular visuals and sets.

Election (1999)

Reese Witherspoon truly broke through with the 1999 comedy Election, where she plays a driven high school student who clashes with her cynical history teacher (Matthew Broderick, subtly referencing his role in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off). The film centers on the amusing rivalry that sparks when Witherspoon’s character, Tracy Flick, runs for student council president. Election is a darkly funny and insightful movie, and it’s often cited as a highlight of a fantastic year for cinema. What’s also clever is the film’s title – simply Election, not The Election – because it’s really about the difficult process of making choices in life, not just the outcome of a school election.

Donnie Darko (2001)

Let’s be honest, if you’re looking for genuinely cult films, Netflix isn’t usually the place to find them – unless you’re into their own, more recent, and often low-budget productions. But occasionally, a true gem slips through, and right now that gem is Richard Kelly’s Donnie Darko. It’s the film that put a young Jake Gyllenhaal on the map, and it’s a fascinating story about a teenager who avoids a tragedy and then feels responsible for preventing something even worse. The movie is drenched in unsettling visuals and a wonderfully dark mood, and honestly, the ending is brilliant. It’s easy to see why Donnie Darko remains one of the best independent films from the early 2000s.

The Squid and the Whale (2005)

I first really noticed Noah Baumbach with his film about a young man dealing with his parents’ divorce – it was a really personal story, and Jesse Eisenberg was fantastic in it. That movie got a lot of attention and seemed to launch Baumbach into a whole new level of filmmaking, which we’re still seeing today with movies like Marriage Story and Jay Kelly on Netflix. It felt like a turning point for him, and I’ve been a fan ever since.

Zodiac (2007)

David Fincher is known for directing thrillers about serial killers, but Zodiac is more than just a crime story. It’s a look at San Francisco over several decades, told through the perspectives of three men obsessed with solving the Zodiac Killer case. We follow a police inspector (Mark Ruffalo), rumored to be the inspiration for the film Bullitt, a crime reporter (Robert Downey Jr.) who became a target of the Zodiac through his reporting, and an amateur detective named Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) who can’t shake the case even after the killings stop. What makes Zodiac stand out is its portrayal of how all-consuming an obsession can be. Fincher immerses the audience in a maze of clues and false leads using clever camera work and editing. By the end of the film—which circles back to its opening moments after a tense two and a half hours—viewers truly understand what drives Robert Graysmith’s relentless pursuit.

Boyhood (2014)

For twelve years, director Richard Linklater secretly filmed scenes with the same actors – a boy (Ellar Coltrane), his mother (Patricia Arquette), and his sister (Lorelei Linklater) – a few days each year. While some might see this as a self-indulgent project, the result is a fascinating look at American life in the early 2000s, and a deeply moving portrayal of one family’s loves, struggles, and sacrifices. All movies deal with time, but Boyhood has a truly special connection to it. Seeing the actors actually age on screen adds an extra layer of emotion to many scenes. When Patricia Arquette reflects on her life at the end, her words carry the weight of a dozen years of real experiences. As the late film critic Roger Ebert once said, “Movies are windows into our world.” And I can’t think of a film that throws open those windows quite like Boyhood.

Whiplash (2014)

Whiplash is a fantastic film that explores the intense dedication and sacrifices artists make for their craft. The movie follows Miles Teller as a driven young jazz drummer at a top music school, and his challenging, often abusive, relationship with his demanding instructor. While pushing him to excel, this relationship raises the question of how much is too much? Director Damien Chazelle expertly balances the film’s thrilling energy with a hint of darkness, culminating in a truly unforgettable final scene – an epic showdown between student and teacher. Surprisingly, Whiplash also works as a remarkably effective horror film; the chilling calm with which the instructor dismisses a mistake – simply saying “not quite my tempo” – is far more terrifying than anything found in typical horror movies of the 2010s.

Sing Street (2016)

Just how good is Sing Street? I actually cried while watching it… on a plane! Even on a small screen at 35,000 feet, this inspiring story of Irish teens chasing musical dreams really resonated. It’s a feel-good movie with witty dialogue, fantastic acting, and a soundtrack that’s even better than La La Land – something we could all use a little more of these days. Be warned, though – the ending might bring a tear (or two!) to your eye. Don’t feel embarrassed if it does.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

While bigger isn’t always better, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse remains a standout and arguably the best Spider-Man movie. It features a large team of Spider-People, including the new hero Miles Morales, the determined Gwen Stacy, and a downbeat Peter B. Parker. The film powerfully emphasizes the classic Spider-Man message – that anyone can be a hero – and beautifully brings Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s inspiring values to life through stunning animation.

Roma (2018)

I remember 2018 as the year Netflix really started making movies everyone was talking about, and for me, Alfonso Cuaron’s Roma stood out. It was a deeply personal film about a family in Mexico and their housekeeper, Cleo, played brilliantly by Yalitza Aparicio. When it first came out, a lot of people said you had to see it in a theater to truly get it, and honestly, Cuaron’s beautiful black-and-white filming did look amazing on the big screen. But I also appreciated being able to watch it at home, where I could cry my eyes out without feeling self-conscious! It really showed me the benefits of how Netflix does things.

The Irishman (2019)

The line, “I’m behind you, Jimmy! All the way,” perfectly foreshadows where Frank Sheeran ultimately stands. This attention to detail is characteristic of The Irishman, a remarkable film that feels like a culmination of Martin Scorsese’s career. The most powerful moments happen towards the end, as Robert De Niro’s character, Sheeran, faces the consequences of his life choices. He appears to take pride in his actions, especially his relationship with Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino), but also realizes that his pursuit of recognition, respect, and wealth has left him alone and dying in a nursing home. A priest attempts to offer him forgiveness, leaving the audience to wonder if it will be enough.

Cats (2019)

Let’s be honest, Cats doesn’t compare to the other films on this list. However, to truly understand something great, it helps to look at its opposite – and Cats perfectly fills that role. Even years after its release, the movie continues to raise so many bizarre questions. Why do the cats have human hands? Where are all the people? What is “hot milk soup”? Why is Jennifer Hudson constantly sniffling? Why does Idris Elba appear nearly nude? And why is Taylor Swift wearing heels while everyone else is barefoot? These questions will probably stay with us forever, and that’s what makes the movie so strangely wonderful.

The Power of the Dog (2021)

“The Power of the Dog” is a slow-burn film where important details unfold quietly, so you’ll need to pay close attention to catch them. The story centers on Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch), a tough cowboy struggling with change after his brother (Jesse Plemons) marries a new wife (Kirsten Dunst) and brings her son, Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee), to the ranch. Phil initially dismisses Peter, but the film cleverly challenges both his and our assumptions about him, leading to a surprising and impactful conclusion. Hopefully, director Jane Campion won’t take another decade to release her next film.

RRR (2022)

This exciting Indian film is a three-hour thrill ride packed with stunning visuals, a sweeping romance, intense action, and energetic musical numbers. It’s similar to a classic John Woo action movie, but set in South Asia and featuring two powerful men on opposing sides of the law who unexpectedly team up. Those men are Bheem, a warrior from the Gond tribe, and Rama, a soldier working for the British Empire. Bheem travels to Delhi to find a missing girl, while Rama is tasked with tracking down whoever is searching for her. Instead of becoming enemies, a chance encounter leads to an unlikely friendship. Throughout the film, RRR keeps you guessing as you wonder when each man will discover the other’s true allegiance. They pull off daring rescues – Bheem representing water, Rama representing fire – and challenge the prejudiced British ruling class, all while showcasing incredible dance sequences.

Godzilla Minus One (2023)

It’s rare for a prequel to truly stand out, but Godzilla Minus One is a brilliant example. By setting Godzilla’s story in post-World War II Japan, the film powerfully reimagines the character, returning him to his roots as a frightening symbol of atomic devastation and the psychological wounds of war. And this Godzilla is genuinely terrifying – immense in scale, disturbingly unwell, and with an atomic breath that feels truly dangerous.

But Godzilla Minus One is more than just a visual spectacle. It features a compelling, flawed protagonist (Ryunosuke Kamiki) and explores complex themes related to kamikaze pilots, culminating in a deeply emotional turning point. A significant portion of the film feels reminiscent of a classic Howard Hawks adventure, with a crew of tough sailors battling a colossal, nuclear-powered dinosaur – and it’s as incredible as that sounds.

Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret. (2023)

While Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret didn’t make a huge splash in cinemas, it feels destined to become a defining film for today’s young generation, much like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was for those of us growing up in the 80s. This faithful adaptation of the classic Judy Blume novel is expertly written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig, and boasts a fantastic cast including Rachel McAdams, Benny Safdie, and Kathy Bates. Abby Ryder Fortson, who was wonderful in the Ant-Man films, is particularly impressive as Margaret. As a father of two daughters, I’m not looking forward to navigating these issues myself, but I’m glad this movie will be here for them when the time comes.

2026-02-09 23:01