Formal disclaimer: I have not read the novel written by Emily Brontë, published in 1847, and the 2026 movie was an adaptation of the book. I watched the movie Feb. 14 at 5 p.m. with my friends, McKenna and Anna.
When watching the film, I was not sure what to expect, especially since the book is known for its complex plot and emotional scenes. The opening scene was indeed dramatic, with a random person being hung and grunting to his death. The setting was dark and moody which matched the cover of the movie poster and set the tone without requiring any previous knowledge.
The story centers around Heathcliff, an orphan that was taken off the streets by the Earnshaw Family, and his relationship with Catherine “Cathy” Earnshaw. They grow up together and their relationship becomes a mix of passion, jealousy, and, later, revenge. Catherine chooses to marry someone of a higher social status than Heathcliff, causing him to spiral and seek revenge by gaining wealth. The plot passes through time quickly, showing how toxic and childish their relationship is and how it affects everyone around them.
One of the best parts of the film was the acting. The main characters like Catherine and Heathcliff were a bit frustrating, but that might have been intentional. Their relationships were convoluted, filled with love, revenge, and weird obsession, making it hard to follow. Even though I have not read the book I could tell the film was trying to stay true to the original’s dramatic style, but added a different element by making Catherine and Heathcliff’s actors much older. For me, this made the timeline of the plot very confusing.
Another thing I noticed was that the plot was moving very slowly at the time, especially during the middle. Some of the scenes seemed to drag on longer than needed, making it hard to stay awake. The only thing that kept me up was the weird use of Heathcliff grabbing Catherine’s ankle for support while he was under the bed. But the thing that kept me awake the most were the shots of landscapes which added a lot to make the scenes more memorable.
Overall, I probably would not rewatch this movie; once was enough. It was an interesting take on a classic novel, but what it really depicted were the complicated relationships we all face and how our personal feelings can interfere with what is right and wrong. Even without reading the novel, I was able to understand this story and appreciate the actors’ ability to convey it. However, it is just really weird for thirty-year-olds to be playing teenagers to early twenty-year-olds, and makes it hard to want to watch. I love Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as actors, but please stick to characters your own age. I would give this movie a rating of 3 out of 5 stars.
★★★☆☆
