“Wuthering Heights”

Director: Emerald Fennell

Young Cathy’s life is changed when her father brings home a young nameless boy, a pet, who she names Heathcliff. Their relationship grows through childhood but when we meet their adult versions of (Margot Robbie & Jacob Elordi), life is different. Cathy’s father has gambled away his money, leaving them poor and the house dilapidated. When “The Heights” gets new neighbours, Edgar Linton(Shazad Latif) and his young ward, Isabella (Alison Oliver), Cathy has a chance of a new life. When she agrees to marry Edgar, it starts a chain of events that takes everyone’s life through happiness, darkness, revenge and tragedy.

It’s a film that has raised controversy, but having never read the novel, I came to this with no preconceptions.

The film is big and gothic, melodramatic, often dark, sometimes ridiculous, blancmange of a film and I enjoyed pretty much every minute of it.

It’s a film about intensity and relationships, unhealthy relationships. Whether that is the one between Cathy and Heathcliff. Isabella’s obsessions or the one between Cathy and Nellie (Hong Chau), Cathy’s childhood “companion”. It is these relationships, for both their good, but often toxic nature, that gives the film its darkness.

Performances are strong. Elordi and Robbie are its core. But they are supported well. Charlotte Mellington and Owen Cooper’s young Cathy and Heathcliff. Alison Oliver takes Isabella from a naive youngster, to a dangerous willing participant. Hong Chau’s capture Nellie’s endless exasperation with Cathy’s childish entitled behaviour. But it’s Martin Clunes that steals the show, flipping from bumbling but good hearted to increasingly bitter, violent and cynical.

Alongside all this. The film looks fabulous, beautifully bold and gothic, reds, greens, raging skies, opulence and poverty. Charlie XCX’s score also works a treat.

While it can often be overblown, there is enough in its darkness and obsessions that keeps you engrossed.

It won’t work for everyone, if you don’t go with Fennell’s version, you just won’t, but if you do it’s an enjoyable ride.