The trailer hits like a storm—not subtle, not gentle, just raw and electric. From the opening frames of Wuthering Heights, directed by Emerald Fennell, we’re plunged into windswept moors drenched in scarlet obsession. Catherine and Heathcliff move with a tension so thick you could drink it. The teaser leans fully into erotic undercurrents: food sliding over skin, a haunting remix of Charli XCX’s “Everything Is Romantic” pulsing through the chaos, and visuals that fuse Gothic romance with something far more modern, far more primal. Every moment lingers—eyes meeting like spells, fingertips grazing like promises, the moors themselves breathing as though alive. It’s sensual, unhinged, and intoxicating in all the right ways. Some early viewers call it “aggressively provocative” and “tonally abrasive,” but honestly? That’s exactly what makes it irresistible. The trailer doesn’t just tease the film; it demands your attention, your breath, your surrender.
Starring Margot Robbie as Catherine and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, the trailer leans hard into sensual tension. We see fingers flick through dough, egg yolk sliding over skin, and almost theatrical gasps— all presenting the PERFECT themes for an erotic romance lover.
The Aesthetics, the Mood, & the Risks
Visually, the trailer is arresting, with every frame leaning into saturated, dreamlike blush tones. The world Fennell’s building is decadent, haunted by desire, rich in texture — gowns, shadows, glistening skin, sweat. It embraces excess. The direction hints that we’re not here for a period piece so much as a Gothic fever dream. The contrast between lush beauty and implied violence gives us chills. As for the backlash, the fury on social media has been palatable. The trailer is being called “soft porn”, “raunchy”, and outright “insulting to the source material.” Critics of the trailer object to shifts in tone, casting choices, and the erotic emphasis — especially when Bronte’s original novel is more about obsession, vengeance, and fragile beauty than sensual spectacle. And yes — casting Jacob Elordi has sparked debates over whitewashing, as Heathcliff was historically written with Romani “Gypsy” lineage and darker features. Margaret Robbie is also older than traditional Catherine — not necessarily a disqualifier, but it adds to the divergence from purist expectations. Emerald Fennell’s style of provocation is already known — per test screenings, the film is reportedly “aggressively provocative” and “tonally abrasive.” Some scenes allegedly include graphic displays and sexual content so raw that attendees called them shocking.
And let’s talk further about the online buzz—because the internet is feral. Reddit threads are blazing, with users on r/PeriodDramas and r/Books dissecting every frame. Some purists claim Fennell is “sacrificing Bronte’s soul for sex appeal,” while others are bowing down to her genius. One viral comment calls it “Saltburn in the moors,” while another says, “Cathy and Heathcliff finally look like the sinners they’re supposed to be.” Over on TikTok, the thirst edits have already started: slo-mo clips of Robbie’s stare, Elordi’s smirk, captions like “if love is madness, sign me up.” Twitter (or X, for the diehards) is a battlefield of literary scholars and fangirls debating who will emotionally survive this film. Even podcast hosts are chiming in—Pop Culture Coven called it “a fever dream for the romantic and the deranged,” and fans seem to agree. The hype is real, messy, and deliciously dramatic, just like the movie promises to be.
The Heart of the Matter: Desire, Pain & Reimagined Gothic
Emerald Fennell isn’t playing it safe—and that’s what makes her one of the most exciting storytellers of this era. Her past work, from the revenge masterpiece Promising Young Woman to the fever dream of Saltburn, proves her signature: lush visuals, taboo desire, and razor-sharp commentary wrapped in elegance. Now, with Wuthering Heights, she’s diving straight into the Gothic heart of love and cruelty. Margot Robbie, who co-produces and stars as Catherine Earnshaw, brings a divine mix of beauty and venom. Her Cathy isn’t some trembling romantic—she’s chaos in couture, a woman who bleeds power and pain in the same breath. Opposite her, Jacob Elordi steps into Heathcliff’s storm like he was born for it. He’s magnetic and menacing, all tall shadows and wounded rage. The chemistry between Robbie and Elordi in the trailer alone could light a candle from across the room—it’s that hot. Fennell has described them as “two celestial bodies crashing into each other,” and honestly, the screen agrees. Between the director’s twisted elegance and this duo’s dangerous charm, Wuthering Heights could be the most spellbinding romance revival of the decade.
At its core, Wuthering Heights is about the blurring line between love and torment. The trailer leans hard into that: raw, messy, and unashamed. Robbie and Elordi don’t show us a soft, innocent love — they show electricity. It’s volatile, dangerous. I felt the ambition: a Bronte retelling that refuses to whisper. But in that ambition lies both potential and peril. The presence of lust, the intensity, the unease — these are bold choices. If Fennell balances it with emotional substance, it could be electrifying. But if it’s style over soul, the backlash will sting. I hate to admit it… but I’m hooked! The trailer is messy, provocative, and even infuriating. But it makes you feel. It dares you to watch, to judge, to argue. As someone who was born in the month of love, I CANNOT WAIT for the movie to drop this upcoming Valentine’s Day.
Personal Rating: 3.5 / 5 hearts bruised and pulsing
Will this version of Wuthering Heights win over Bronte purists? Maybe not. But it might carve out its own wild space — in the gothic-romance canon, as audacious reinterpretation.
Brace yourself, lovers of storms and longing: we might be in for a haunting unlike anything we’ve seen.
