I was not sure what to expect when I sat down to watch Emerald Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights,” but it was definitely not a violent hanging scene. The film’s opening immediately set the tone for what I was about to watch.
The film is set in the 19th century and follows Catherine Earnshaw (Margot Robbie), an upper-class woman, and Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi), an orphan taken in by Catherine’s father, through their lives at Wuthering Heights.
I found Catherine infuriating. When she realizes she has fallen in love with Heathcliff, she says it would be beneath her to marry him, not knowing Heathcliff was listening nearby. In response, he abruptly leaves Wuthering Heights, and Catherine marries their wealthy neighbor, Edgar Linton (Shazad Latif).
When Heathcliff returns, Catherine continues to lead him on viciously. Their love is destructive and vengeful, and it ultimately leads to their demise.
Owen Cooper, who plays young Heathcliff, did a remarkable job portraying the character’s skittishness. I found Cooper and Elordi’s accents surprisingly similar, despite one actor being British and the other Australian.
Aside from Catherine and Heathcliff, I found the supporting characters very entertaining. Nelly’s (Hong Chau) ignorant behavior is detestable, and Isabella (Alison Oliver) adds a much-needed comedic element to an intense film.
Oliver’s commitment to her craft reaches an all-time high when she pretended to be a dog to help Heathcliff get Catherine’s attention. Anytime I think of this movie, I can’t get the image of Isabella on all fours out of my head.
One of my favorite elements of the film is the difference in set design between Wuthering Heights and the Linton house. Wuthering Heights, the Earnshaw estate, is often dark and unsanitary, whereas the Linton house is full of bright colors and lavish finishings and has a dollhouse feel to it. Most notably, Catherine’s bedroom at the Linton house has panels of fabric modeled after Robbie’s real skin to show Edgar’s admiration for her.
This lavishness is also translated into Catherine’s outfits during her time at the Linton estate. Robbie sports many gowns, often paired with intricate hairstyles and makeup. The stark contrast between the dark interior of the house and Catherine’s cherry red gown shows how much Catherine has changed during her time away.
The score also contributes to the modernization of the source material. “House featuring John Cale” by Charli XCX perfectly encapsulates Wuthering Heights. As represented by the lyrics, Catherine’s father was abusive, leading her to believe that she was literally going to “die in the house.”
While “Wuthering Heights” struggles to depict a believable romantic relationship, it redeems itself with a strong supporting cast, design and score.
Published and digitized March 2026.
