The novel Wuthering Heights is a morality tale full of intense passion that explores the complex psychology of love and betrayal. Tackling this depth on film is challenging and Emerald Fennell’s adaptation sadly doesn’t do justice to the central theme of Emily Brontë’s book – the destructive nature of revenge and the redemptive power of true love.
The film rightly puts the tempestuous relationship between Heathcliff and Cathy at the centre of the action but spends too much time on the physical side of things and not enough on characters and plot.
Part of the issue is that Fennell has excised or changed a number of characters from the original story. Cathy’s brother Hindley and his son Hareton are completely gone as is tenant Mr Lockwood. Isabella Linton is transformed into the ward of Edgar rather than his sister, and though she marries Heathcliff their son Linton does not come into the film at all. Mr Earnshaw is a brutish monster rather than the kindhearted man from the novel.
These changes remove or diminish the key reasons Heathcliff sought revenge – it was Hindley’s years long cruelty and the contempt shown by the Linton family towards him that filled Heathcliff with hatred. Making Mr Earnshaw the sole baddie means Heathcliff’s nastiness towards Edgar and his family makes no sense.
A good example of this is after Heathcliff marries Isabella he completely degrades and humiliates her and she takes masochistic delight in it. This is titillating for a modern audience but it is completely contrary to Brontë’s depiction of Isabella as an innocent casualty of Heathcliff’s cruelty.
Heathcliff’s actions therefore are akin to those of a psychopath rather than someone who has a genuine reason to lash out at others and so we lose any empathy we might have had for him.
Ultimately the film ends with Cathy’s death after giving birth so we never get to see anything positive. The question that is left is what was the point? With no next generation to come together and right the wrongs this was all just a dramatic tale of domestic abuse and stalking.
While the story had issues the performances were very good. Margo Robbie and Jacob Elordi have definite chemistry and obvious sex appeal. Both bring a heightened sense of emotion and theatricality to their roles but that seems appropriate given the time period and the gothic nature of the tale. Martin Clunes delivers an excellent portrayal of a drunken cad who can also turn on the charm when it suits.
The film’s tone, costuming, and scenery definitely suit the period and the decor of the two manor houses provide a stark contrast to one another which perfectly matched the inhabitants of both. The set for Wuthering Heights itself however was quite odd with external walls consisting of shiny black plastic looking bricks whereas the inside resembled a slum.
Wuthering Heights is curious film which doesn’t really feel satisfying because the story just doesn’t seem deep or meaningful. Perhaps the filmmakers thought that some intriguing Gothic architecture, stunning costumes, and lots of brooding looks and arguments in the pouring rain would suffice to make it work. But by focussing on sex and violence, and not bringing in the redemptive story arc of the novel this film is an anticlimax. What was all the suffering for if there is no redemption?
WUTHERING HEIGHTS
Starring: Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi. Hong Chau, Shazad Latif, Alison Oliver, Martin Clunes, Ewan Mitchell
Directed by: Emerald Fennell
Duration: 136 minutes
In New Zealand cinemas 12 February 2026