When I think of historical book-to-movie adaptations, a few unforgettable classics come to mind–Pride & Prejudice with Keira Knightley, or Sense and Sensibility with Kate Winslet and Hugh Grant. Both films were heartfelt and sophisticated in that prestige drama type of way. But with both of these movies now more than two decades old, it makes sense that period romance adaptations would evolve. And the new Wuthering Heights was proof that we are not in Kansas anymore–or even Hertfordshire. Nope. In 2026, we’re in the wild and stormy world of Wuthering Heights.
Robbie and Elordi as Catherine and Heathcliff
As with any film, the chemistry and skill of the actors are key to creating something great, and I have to say, if this movie had any redeeming qualities, it was the chemistry between Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. Before seeing the movie, I read a few articles about how Robbie became a bit too attached to Elordi whilst filming, and after seeing the film, it makes sense. She honestly embraced her character in a way many actresses have yet to master, and, being that her character had a toxic attachment to Elordi’s character, Heathcliff–I get why it spilled over into real life.
Robbie plays the main female role of Catherine Earnshaw, a woman who grew up in Wuthering Heights with her drunk, abusive father and eventually a young boy they take in, whom she names Heathcliff. They essentially spend their childhood forming a trauma bond with one another until the point comes when it is Catherine’s time to marry. Long story short, she chooses to marry into wealth, a decision she automatically regrets, especially when Heathcliff returns to her years later, wealthy and significantly better kempt than he was when he gave up his role as a stable boy. Catherine is a complex character who is outrageously dramatic–but Robbie’s portrayal made me love her. She teeters on the brink of insanity, especially when Heathcliff is around, but somehow, it makes her relatable. With all that shes been through, it makes sense for her to cling to the one person who gave her hope and helped her survive her childhood.
Heathcliff is essentially the other side of their little coin. He grew up as an outsider with his only constant being Catherine–the only person who ever seemed to care. She became more than a friend or someone he loves; she was almost like the defining part of his identity. When Catherine chooses wealth and stability over him, it destroys who she built him to be, leaving only the dark, traumatic parts of him behind.
Unlike the majority of characters in novels and films, these characters didn’t have a satisfying arc, nor did they have a happy ending. They both allowed their trauma to define them, their love for each other to consume them in the darkest way possible, and eventually, it led to both of their demise. (Hers in a bit more of a literal sense)
Breaking the Mold of the Traditional Period Romance
Going into the film, I definitely had some biased expectations based on period romance dramas I had fallen in love with in the past. So much so that my jaw might have dropped a bit once I realized the vibe this adaptation was going for was not on the same wavelength. This film was a romance at its core, but a dark and completely wild one. The first half focused heavily on the slow burn, the yearning of Catherine and Heathcliff, without anything too R-rated, yet somehow they still managed to make me uncomfortable with their strong focus on egg yolks and grotesque references to sensuality.
But that, my friends, was just the set-up. I realized they were preparing us for the madness that would follow when Catherine and Heathcliff finally allow themselves to be together, despite her marriage and child on the way.
The truth is, even though it was an R-rated modern take on the classic novel, I get why the filmmakers chose this style. They were trying to embrace the novel’s themes and emotional intensity without relying on a narrator to explicitly say all of it. Instead, they intertwine sensuality with violence in such a chaotic way that the audience can feel the dark vibe of the book simply by watching the film.
Was It the Novel–or the Film–That Was So Wild?
One thing I have to note is that the plot felt like it was all over the place. As someone who read Brontë’s novel in high school but completely forgot most of it, I wasn’t sure if some of the chaos and confusing moments were because of the novel’s plot or the films. So I did some research. And as with many older novels, a lot of the distasteful scenes were created to dramatize what was said in the novel. Isabella Linton, for example, her character wasn’t actually written to be so…strange. And Heathcliff treats her horribly with mental and physical abuse, but in the novel (that was published in 1847), he didn’t hypnotize her into becoming a dog.
So it seems that many of the scenes and specific plot points were purely created by the filmmakers for dramatic effect. And I mean, if they wanted a film that was unlike any other and was so offbeat that nothing felt predictable…then they certainly succeeded.
In the end, it wasn’t exactly my favorite romance movie, but I can’t pretend it isn’t worth watching–it keeps the audience guessing. Moreso, Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi’s performances make it easy to immerse in the story, and although a lot of the emotion is dark and unsettling, the ending was enough to make most of the theater shed a few tears. Compared to some recent films that felt a bit lazy in production and storytelling, I’d say this period drama was clearly well-made. I suppose I just miss the kind of restrained, polite romance that used to exist in movies and novels.
