I hadn’t intended to go and see Emerald Fennell’s new Wuthering Heights adaptation as I’d been put off by the trailer and the early reviews being almost universally negative, but I wasn’t doing much else yesterday and made a last minute decision to go, in the hope that it wouldn’t be as bad as it sounded!
Wuthering Heights is one of my favourite books and I’m under no misconceptions about it being a ‘romantic love story’, no matter how much the book and various film versions may have been marketed that way. I first read it when I was thirteen and I wasn’t particularly interested in reading romance novels at that age anyway, so I loved it for the dark, twisted, passionate Gothic novel it is. To me, it’s the perfect book and I would probably be critical of any adaptation that’s not completely faithful. I tried to go in with an open mind, although I knew it would be difficult.
There’s been a lot of criticism of the casting of Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, due to him not being the ‘dark-skinned gypsy’ Emily Brontë describes (we don’t know exactly what his racial background is, but the general consensus is that he’s not white like Elordi). Interestingly, Fennell has cast Asian actors in the roles of Edgar Linton and Nelly Dean, taking away the whole idea of Heathcliff being looked down upon because of his skin colour. As for Edgar’s sister, Isabella, she’s reduced to a comedy character in this version, with a silly, childish voice (and there’s a strong implication that she’s actually enjoying the abuse she receives from Heathcliff). The biggest problem with the casting, though, at least for me personally, was 35-year-old Margot Robbie playing Cathy, a brown-haired teenager in the book. She was completely wrong for the part, with her age, her blonde hair and bright red dresses, all of which kept breaking any immersion in the story that I was starting to feel.
As usual, the whole second half of the book is missed out (so no younger Catherine, Linton Heathcliff or Hareton Earnshaw), eliminating some of the novel’s important themes and subplots. I don’t understand why it’s apparently so difficult to adapt the whole book – yes, there would have to be flashbacks, a framing story, shifting timelines etc, but surely that’s not impossible to deal with? In this version, there’s also no Mr Lockwood, which means we don’t get the famous ghost scene – and most inexplicably, no Hindley Earnshaw. Instead, the characteristics of Hindley and his (and Cathy’s) father, old Mr Earnshaw, are combined into one character, played wonderfully by Martin Clunes, who does a great job and is the star of the show, in my opinion! Leaving out Hindley, though, removes the whole storyline involving his rivalry with Heathcliff and later, Heathcliff’s scheme to take revenge.
Despite everything I’ve said, this wasn’t a bad way to pass a few hours on a cold, wet Sunday afternoon and I’m sure other people were probably enjoying it more than I was. The film does at least look great – beautiful cinematography, dramatic Yorkshire Dales scenery and dark and brooding interior sets. If you’ve seen it, let me know what you thought. I’m particularly curious to know whether it worked better for people who’ve never read the book or don’t love the book as much as I do.
She Reads Novels 
I’m in two minds about whether to go and see it or not. I’ve not read the book for years so some of the alterations might not bother me. It might depend on the weather this week.
I definitely think people who haven’t read the book or not read it recently might enjoy it more. I hope you like it if you do decide to go and see it.
I read the novel 10 years ago and don’t have a strong recollection so was questioning why characters were missing. I thought oh maybe i am misremembering it. Either way it took me towards the end to have a clearer idea of how i felt about it. I forgot how i was annoyed by the sensuality in grotesque elements. And how i felt certain things were lacking and why was Cathy barely portrayed as the obnoxious twat she was. It really came all beautifully together. The sets, costume, colors. The intensity between the actors. I have to say i kinda love the film. I do wish she came back for a small haunt though.
Wow! I hadn’t intended to touch it with a bargepole, but the fact they’ve left out Lockwood and the ghost is enough to convince me I shall never see it!!!
They’ve left out a lot of things, but it’s particularly disappointing that they completely ignore the ghost scene which is such a key part of the book!
The second half is the whole point of the book. I’m staying away from the movie, I think it would just make me cringe, and doing a reread instead.
Yes, by leaving out the whole second half you lose all the complexities of the book and it makes the first half have less meaning. You’re not missing much by staying away from this one – a reread sounds more enjoyable!
It’s about healing generational trauma, and you can’t have that without multiple generations. I will enjoy the reading, thanks for the inspiration!
This excerpt from the Boston Globe review confirmed my suspicion that this would not be a good use of $20! I know it is one of your favorites so I am sorry you were disappointed.
Emerald Fennell’s overdone adaptation casts Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, Margot Robbie as Cathy, Alison Oliver as Isabella, and Hong Chau as Nelly. If you don’t know who those characters are, you should have paid more attention to your English teacher. The most positive thing I can say about the umpteenth version of this material is that it continues a grand tradition of cinematic literary adaptations. That is, students will fail the “Wuthering Heights” question on their final exam if they watch this instead of reading the book.
I suspected I probably wouldn’t like it very much, so it was less disappointing than it would have been if I’d gone in with higher expectations. I completely agree with the Boston Globe review – it’s very overdone and definitely not something to be relied on by students!
Absolutely wild to me that people keep choosing to adapt Wuthering Heights as a mainstream Hollywood film. The only conceivable way to do it would be to make a weird little indie freak of a movie, with very deliberate structural and formal choices. (But that, of course, wouldn’t make anyone any money.)
Yes, it seems that, for whatever reason, it’s just not a book that translates well into a mainstream film, although I don’t think it should be impossible. I didn’t expect this one to be very good, but it was still disappointing!
I love this book, too! Which is why I won’t be going to see the movie. Because the movie is not the book. Plus, I can’t get past Robbie as Catherine. She’s just not.
I did try to enjoy it and not compare it to the book, but I couldn’t see past Robbie either – she’s just so wrong for Catherine!
Huh. Now I don’t know whether I want to see it or not. Of course, I’ve never considered the book romantic, either, just pretty brutal. I’m only familiar with the really old version of the movie, where Heathcliff is played by the Laurence Olivier, so not exactly looking at the race issue there either. And I was struck by the casting issue, too, with Margot Robbie, when the stars were on TV the other night. I didn’t realize they left out the ghost part. How can they do that? That’s the whole point, isn’t it?
Yes, I think leaving out the ghost scene, as well as the entire second half of the book, makes the plot lose a lot of its meaning. My biggest problem, though, was Margot Robbie – she’s just completely wrong for that role!
I can imagine that. I actually thought that when I saw the two of them on TV the other night.
I am leery of anything “Hollywood” et al does with wonderful classic novels because they have ruined so many in an effort to win a “modern” audience with spectacle and extravagance. I am almost afraid to watch the upcoming PBS adaptation of The Forsythe Saga (I liked former versions) because commercials look like great effort was made to make it appeal to just that group. Bah humbug!
I’m often disappointed with adaptations as I prefer them to be faithful to the book and they very rarely are. I hope the new Forsyte Saga will be better than it looks!
I’ve not read the book yet – I have a cheapo edition as well as a heavily annotated edition – but with what I know to be a complex and profoundly disturbing text I can’t imagine a film getting anywhere near the subtleties required. I hoped for better from the classic BBC adaptation currently available on iPlayer but we gave up after a quarter of an hour – the production was turgid.
I would definitely recommend the book over any of the adaptations I’ve seen!
I don’t like the book, but I think this film version of it will annoy me like mad. If you’re going to use the name and the characters, stick to the story! And Margot Robbie is old enough to be Catherine’s mother.
It was so different from the book, they should have just called it something else – but then it wouldn’t be getting so much publicity, I suppose!
The second half of the book matters. Gosh. I rarely get to go see a film so I doubt I’ll see this till it streams, but I am more curious now.
Yes, the second half of the book is just as important as the first and it’s frustrating that only half of it got adapted!
I haven’t even seen the trailer but a couple of stills of the far-too-old Margot Robbie in those ridiculous costumes was enough to put me off! Glad you didn’t totally hate it, but I fear you haven’t convinced me to give it a try… 😉
I liked the scenery and Martin Clunes, so it wasn’t all bad!
I was considering it, but my daughter and I have decided maybe not. First because it’s less loosely inspired, and second because, my daughter believes it’s kind of centered too much on the steamy romance which-not judging those who fancy it-, we’re not the type. Funny thing I haven’t watched Frankenstein either!
It’s very loosely inspired-not less
It’s very far away from the book
Yes, it does have a lot of focus on the steamy romance! It really doesn’t have much in common with the book at all. I did enjoy the recent Frankenstein adaptation, though!
I’m so conflicted about this film.
I love the book, it’s one of my favourites. I’ve never understood why people call it one of the greatest love stories of all time, they’re bloody horrible characters, they’re vile to each other and everyone around them.
I understand this is an adaptation but it seems the word adaptation is doing a lot of heavy lifting for how many changes have been made to the story and if you’re going to change it to that extent, why not just write something completely new? 🤷🏻♀️
What I will say though is I went to Howarth for work last week, I was lucky enough to be able to cover it for our news bulletins and the man I interviewed at the parsonage did say they are selling more copies of it and getting more visitors so regardless of whether it’s good or bad, I’m pleased it’s introducing a new generation to the Brontes and Wuthering Heights (even if it’s inaccurate).
Finally, Barbie is not Cathy.
I prefer adaptations to be as faithful to the book as possible, although there are some I’ve enjoyed that have been very different. In this case, though, they’ve left so much out that it would have been better to just change the names of the characters and call it an original film loosely based on Wuthering Heights.
But yes, it can only be a good thing if the film is getting people interested in the Brontës and/or encouraging them to pick up the book!
Same.
I have enjoyed the debates around it and hearing what people think of it regardless of whether or not they’ve read it. It’s been a hor topic among the younger journalists in our news room who do now want to read it.
It’s just not the film for me – I did enjoy the series with Tom Hardy in it a few years ago.
I saw this yesterday and really enjoyed it. I havent read the book yet though and havent even seen any other adaptations of it so I really didnt know what to expect at all. Besides the fact that the characters are often unlikeable and its an obsessive love story – things I’ve learnt from reviews.
Its nice to know that Isabella is completely different in the book as she struck me as highly peculiar here. I was also surprised to hear that a whole part had been cut when I looked it up later. Although I did think I’d heard of Heathcliff practically haunting the moors so it made sense that something was missed.
Hopefully one day you’ll get the true adaptation that you long for 🤞
Its also left me even more eager to pick the book up. It was already one of the classics I was hoping to try this year but I’m even more intrigued now. Although im waiting a few months to read it so the movie isn’t too fresh in my mind.
Thanks for commenting, Charlotte – I was really curious to know what somebody would think who hadn’t read the book and isn’t very familiar with the story, so I’m glad you enjoyed it so much! There were things I liked about it, but I found it too difficult to put the book out of my mind, particularly as the characters all looked so different from the way Emily Brontë described them.
I hope you like the book, whenever you get round to reading it. I think waiting a few months is probably a good idea!
I completely understand that. It’s hard to see an adaptation changing bits and pieces of a favourite story. And it definitely does sound like this one changed rather a lot.
I’m definitely looking forward to trying it later on this year. I’m hoping that I’ll manage to pick up Essie Fox’s retelling afterwards too 🤞
I’ve been thinking about reading the new Essie Fox book as well. I read some of her other books years ago and remember enjoying them.
I hope you enjoy it if you get around to picking it up. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for any potential future review.
I’m going to see this tomorrow and will try and keep an open mind! I read WH years ago and didn’t particularly like it, I have a problem with all consuming passion, I just don’t really believe it; but I do think I should re read it as an adult. The part I’m the most worried about is Isabella and enjoying the abuse, this is something that’s worrying me about films at the moment. I’m glad you didn’t completely hate it, that gives me hope!
Hopefully you’ll like it better than I did! I think the fact that it’s one of my favourite books probably made me more critical of it. I really dislike what they’ve done to Isabella’s character, though.
I had no plans to watch this before reading your thoughts and now… I still don’t. 🤦♀️
I tried to keep an open mind about it, but just got irritated by how much they had left out and Margot Robbie being completely wrong for Catherine!
Well done! Not sure I would have got through it! 😅
Dang, I had my misgivings about going but now, it’s gonna be a pass. Not that I don’t appreciate Ms. Robbie’s work, but the 30 olds playing teenagers troupe defeats the purpose of a story where a young woman becomes a woman. Guess I’ll just have to read the book again. Thank you for falling on this landmine for us before we head to the theaters.