Wuthering Heights, or should I say “Wuthering Heights,” since Emerald Fennell has been clear that this version exists in quotation marks as her interpretation of the classic, is a carefully styled adaptation that chooses mood over excavation.

From a craft standpoint, there is intention behind nearly every choice. Fennell makes it clear this is her version of the story, and that even extends to the costume design. The looks are not strictly historical. They are bold and stylized, leaning into mood and statement over historical accuracy. The production design feels curated rather than cluttered. The cinematography leans into shadow and open landscape, building an atmosphere that feels heavy and inescapable. The moors do not just sit in the background. They press in on the characters. The film knows exactly how it wants to look, and it commits to that vision.

Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi deliver committed performances. Robbie gives Catherine volatility that fractures into vulnerability at key moments. You can sense the self-destruction simmering beneath her composure. Elordi’s Heathcliff is internal and restrained, choosing controlled intensity over outward fury. That decision fits the film’s subdued approach to chaos. Their chemistry works best in stillness, when silence carries more weight than dialogue. The performances feel invested, even when the emotional temperature never fully breaks through.

Fennell makes it clear from the start that she is not aiming for a strict adaptation of the novel. The casting and narrative shifts signal that immediately. I did not expect a traditional retelling. What I hoped for was a deeper dive into the novel’s cruelty and darkness. Those themes are there, but the film keeps them at arm’s length. Just when the story edges toward something raw or destabilizing, it tightens back up.

In Promising Young Woman and Saltburn, Fennell showed a willingness to let discomfort linger. Both films leaned into moral unease and excess. Here, the control is tighter and the chaos feels contained. The aesthetic remains sharp, but the emotional risks feel calculated rather than dangerous. At times the film seems to prioritize “vibes” over substance.

The film creates an immersive world that looks incredible. I just wanted it to go further emotionally.

I left appreciating the craftsmanship and the performances, especially from Robbie and Elordi, but wishing the story had taken more risk.

Overall, I would rate Wuthering Heights a 6 out of 10. It is thoughtful in design and deliberate in tone, but its intensity feels contained rather than consuming.