Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights adaptation prioritizes aesthetics over narrative depth

Emerald Fennell's 2023 cinematic rendition of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights reinterprets the novel's deep psychological struggles into a visually appealing yet emotionally hollow presentation. Jacob Elordi portrays Heathcliff, who loses his ethnic depth and is reduced to a figure of sexual frustration. Margot Robbie's Catherine Earnshaw takes center stage, adorned in intricate costumes. The film emphasizes visual style, evoking a boutique hotel vibe, complemented by Charli XCX's soundtrack during scenes of misty moors. Fennell diverges from Brontë's narrative, using scare quotes around the title and excluding Heathcliff's backstory. The addition of a sex scene, not present in the original, diminishes the film's tension. In contrast to Andrea Arnold's 2011 version, Fennell’s adaptation merges period drama with modern influences, resembling an extended advertisement.