‘Wuthering Heights’ Review: Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi Lead Steamy Adaptation

I have a confession to make: I’m a terrible reader. So no, I haven’t read Emily Brontë’s ‘Wuthering Heights’.

I make this revelation because I went into Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of the famous 1847 novel completely blind. Not only have I not read the book, I haven’t seen any of the previous film adaptations.

Maybe there’s some good in having zero expectations, nothing to compare and contrast it with, which many of you might end up doing when you see this ‘Wuthering Heights’. Because from what I’ve gathered, it contains creative changes that deviate from the original source material.

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The film opens with a young Catherine “Cathy” Earnshaw (Charlotte Mellington), whose father is the master of Wuthering Heights, a remote estate in northern England. Mr. Earnshaw (Martin Clunes), an impulsive eccentric with a gambling problem, takes in a quiet young boy (Owen Cooper, of “Adolescence” fame) whom he says he stole from an abusive father. He gives the boy to Cathy, who she names after her late brother Heathcliff.

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A pure, innocent bond develops between Cathy and Heathcliff. They play on the field, she teaches him to read, but not until they faced her father’s wrath for being late for his birthday dinner. Even though it was Cathy’s fault, Heathcliff took the blame. That’s when she learned how devoted he was to her – and he has the scars on his back to prove it.

Jacob Eloridi as Heathcliff in “Wuthering Heights”, a Warner Bros. release. Pictures. (Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.)

Fast forward several years as Cathy grows into a young woman (Margot Robbie) while Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi) becomes a rough servant for the family. Cathy’s curiosity gets the better of her as she desperately wants to know who their new neighbors are (who live five miles away). Wealthy Edgar Linton (Shazad Latif) sees her peeking over the wall. He is immediately smitten by her and asks her to marry him not long after. Her father, whose drunken gambling has left the family with barely two cents to rub together, is excited at the prospects of a new fortune, but deep down Cathy knows she is truly in love with Heathcliff. When Heathcliff hears that he is about to lose the love of his life, he runs away.

What ultimately unfolds is a steamy affair and a bitter war of jealous lovers after Heathcliff returns years later with a dashing makeover and a ton of money.

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Jacob Eloridi as Heathcliff and actor, producer Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw in “Wuthering Heights,” a Warner Bros. release. Pictures. (Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.)

“Wuthering Heights” marks Emerald Fennell’s third feature film as writer and director. It is by far her biggest project to date, but it has noticeably less punch than her predecessors ‘Promising Young Woman’ and ‘Saltburn’. Still, there’s plenty to chew on here.

Robbie and Elordi both deliver fine performances, although the film’s breakout performance belongs to Alison Oliver, who provides comic relief as Edgar’s crazy sister Isabella. Hong Chau, a rising star in his own right (see “The Whale,” “The Menu,” HBO’s “The Watchmen”), also gives a subtly great portrait of Nelly, Cathy’s old servant who is angry at her love for Heathcliff.

Although the film won’t be eligible for the Oscars next month, “Wuthering Heights” will be an early contender for several craft categories, ranging from Oscar winner Linus Sandgren’s visually striking cinematography, beautiful costumes by two-time Oscar winner Jacqueline Durran and beautifully crafted production design.

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(L-r) Alison Oliver as Isabella Linton and actor-producer Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw in “Wuthering Heights,” a Warner Bros. release. Pictures. (Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.)

The verdict

With a solid cast and stunning visuals, Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights” is a fine film that relies more on its production value than its source material. Hopefully seeing this on Valentine’s Day will make you appreciate the healthy, stable relationships in your life.

★★★ — STREAM IT LATER

“Wuthering Heights” is rated R for sexual content, some violent content and language. Running time: 2 hours and 16 minutes. Now in cinemas.

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