‘Emily Bronte rolling in her grave!’
Wuthering Heights has divided critics ahead of its release on Friday, with some agreeing author Emily Bronte would be left “rolling in her grave”.
The film, based on the 1847 novel, stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as protagonists Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff.
Emerald Fennell’s highly anticipated adaptation of Wuthering Heights has sparked a remarkable split among film critics though.
Several reviewers have described the production as “astonishingly bad,” while others have embraced the film’s bold approach, calling it “swoonily romantic.”
Wuthering Heights reviewers have been left divided
|
WARNER BROTHERS
The Daily Telegraph awarded the maximum five stars, whilst The Times and The Guardian both gave just two stars, and The Independent delivered a damning one-star verdict.
The Times critic Kevin Maher awarded two stars and labelled Robbie’s portrayal a “Bronte Barbie” in what he deemed a “vapid” production that “fails to reflect the complexity of the greatest gothic novel in English literature.”
His review took particular aim at Mr Elordi’s Heathcliff, describing him as “plonked in front of the camera,” whilst dismissing the intimate sequences as “exhausting sex scenes that overstay their welcome.”
The Independent’s Clarisse Loughrey was even harsher with her one-star assessment, stating: “Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi’s performances are almost pushed to the border of pantomime,” and describing Heathcliff as a “wet-eyed, Mills & Boon mirage.”
Some reviewers slammed the new adaptation of Wuthering Heights
|
WARNER BROTHERS
Wuthering Heights lands in cinemas on February 13
|
GETTY
Empire’s Beth Webb took a more measured stance with three stars, noting the film “could benefit from feeling more grounded especially when Cathy and Heathcliff fight and fornicate like teenagers, ricocheting between lust and loathing.”
The Irish Times’ Donald Clarke also awarded three stars, observing that despite rumours of extreme content, the opening scene was “closer to Carry on Heathcliff than The 120 Days of Sodom.”
Reviewers’ ratings of Wuthering Heights ranged from one to five stars
|
WARNER BROTHERS
Fennell has been transparent about her departure from a faithful adaptation, with the Daily Mail’s Brian Viner noting she “has pared back the story, either tinkering with characters and sub-plots or removing them altogether.”
The casting has also drawn criticism, with accusations of whitewashing given Elordi plays a character described in the novel as having gypsy heritage with dark features, whilst 35-year-old Robbie is considerably older than the youthful Cathy.
