Wuthering Heights - Movie Review

There are some movies that mistake misery for passion, and unfortunately, this version of Wuthering Heights falls directly into that trap. Directed as a dark, sensual reimagining of the classic novel, the film clearly wants to be this sweeping, erotic gothic romance filled with obsession, lust, and emotional devastation. Instead, it mostly ends up being a very pretty, very slow movie about two people screaming at each other on hills for over two hours.

The story follows Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, two deeply connected souls whose relationship becomes increasingly toxic and destructive as the years go on. Set against the cold and haunting Yorkshire moors, the film leans heavily into atmosphere and emotional intensity. There’s betrayal, jealousy, revenge, class conflict, and endless longing. The movie definitely understands the tragic nature of the source material, but it forgets that audiences still need a reason to emotionally invest in these people.

The biggest strengths here are absolutely the performances. gives Catherine a chaotic energy that keeps the movie alive whenever she’s onscreen. She fully commits to the emotional instability of the character and brings real charisma to scenes that otherwise would’ve felt lifeless. is also solid as Heathcliff, delivering a brooding and emotionally wounded performance that fits the gothic tone really well. Even when the script drags, both actors are clearly trying their hardest to elevate the material.

Visually, the movie is gorgeous. The production design and costume design are easily some of the best aspects of the film. Every frame looks carefully crafted, with beautiful gothic architecture, fog-covered landscapes, candlelit interiors, and richly detailed period costumes. The movie looks expensive and artistic, and honestly, if you muted the dialogue and just admired the visuals, you’d probably have a better time.

But the film has some major problems.

For something heavily marketed as an erotic romance, the actual romance feels strangely cold and lifeless. The movie constantly teases this wild, obsessive sexual chemistry between Catherine and Heathcliff, but it barely delivers on that front. The sex scenes are surprisingly tame, brief, and lacking in intensity, and there’s almost no real erotic energy throughout the film. Considering how much the marketing leaned into sensuality and forbidden desire, it feels weirdly sanitized. I was promised an erotic Margot Robbie movie, and I was sold on that, but I was disappointed! If you’re selling the movie as this dark erotic romance, audiences are probably expecting more passion, more tension, and honestly, more memorable intimacy scenes than what’s actually here.

Another issue is that the characters are just incredibly difficult to care about. I understand that Heathcliff and Catherine are supposed to be toxic and self-destructive, but the movie pushes their suffering so aggressively that eventually it becomes exhausting instead of tragic. The film desperately wants the audience to feel emotionally devastated by their relationship, but I mostly felt detached and bored. There’s only so much screaming, crying, and emotional cruelty you can watch before it stops being compelling.

And that’s really the biggest problem overall: the movie is just boring. Despite all the dramatic music, beautiful cinematography, and intense performances, the pacing is painfully slow. Scenes drag on forever, conversations repeat the same emotional beats, and by the second half it starts feeling emotionally repetitive. It’s one of those movies where you constantly feel the runtime.

In the end, this Wuthering Heights adaptation has strong acting, stunning visuals, and impressive craftsmanship, but it completely fails to make the romance emotionally gripping or genuinely seductive. It’s a gothic melodrama that confuses bleakness with depth, and while I can admire parts of it artistically, I honestly didn’t enjoy watching it very much.

Rating: 4.5/10

On the side note:  If you want to see Margot Robbie in scenes that really don't disappoint (if you know what I mean), watch The Wolf of Wall Street! You're welcome! 

This is Dylan Goebel, and I'll see you in the next review!