Wuthering Heights - the movie
On Sunday I went and saw the new Wuthering Heights, directed by Andrea Arnold with Simone. As we walked to the local cinema I said 'I'm prepared to be mildly disturbed' and I think Simone may have actually been a little bit dismissive of that comment ;) ... But folks, mildly is ranked among the greatest understatements I've made. “Psycho” is about the only adjective that we could call to mind for some time to describe this film. It’s impressively disturbing.
We all know the truth that Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights is a dysfunctional story, populated by the mentally unwell, but this movie lent its own dimensions to the psychological illnesses on display.
The cinematography was peculiar. Lots of (at times turbulent) hand-held camera work, lots of depth-shifting focus, lots of slow takes of insects, lots of light flickering in the darkness on indistinct objects. At times it was hard to watch. Then there was very little music. Much of the movie was quite silent but for Cathy’s occasional singing. There is an angle from which the film is beautifully executed, but it’s not a broad definition of beautiful.
One of the most uncomfortable aspects of the film for me was that, from the opening scenes, it is very sensual and suggestive around the antics of the young Heathcliff and Cathy. I know there are hints of this possibility in the book, but the movie makes good use of the idea. Then to escalate the disturbance there are several cruel animal scenes - not your usual farming animal requirements, but deliberate cruelty (which comes with the psychological disturbances does it not). And for those of us who didn’t so much as dip a toe in the receding vampire surge, there is a rather repulsive vampire-esque scene that made me squirm.
In summary, the film is dark, wet, and crazy. I haven’t been to see a movie at midday in a long time, but I was rather glad we came out of the cinema to sunshine and happiness to dispel the movie’s almost stifling gloom, and that I didn't have to go home to sleep.
Here is a review in Time Entertainment if you are interested.