Originally a novel published by Emily Brontë in 1847, “Wuthering Heights” has a vast catalog of movies adapting the story. In early February, moviegoers got to see director Emerald Fennell take a stab at creating a 2026 adaptation, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff respectively. 

From the beginning of the film, there are two aspects that are clear: how well they mimicked the lighting and settings of an 18th century English home through the cinematography, and the emotional depth the children versions of the characters bring to the scenes. 

The depth of emotion in the film foreshadows the plot in which Heathcliff, an impoverished young boy, is taken in by the Earnshaws. Catherine, the Earnshaws’ daughter, nurtures and takes care of him. 

As a result, she grows a deep sense of care for the boy, teaching him skills like reading alongside how to live life, like having fun in the rain. Catherine sees him as a friend since childhood despite his father calling him her “little pet.” 

These qualities made him fall in love with her. Their love, as sweet as it may sound, has a whirlwind of toxicity due to the disparity in financial status between the two. This results in them going through tragedies in their lives only to end up with an ending just as tragic. 

The movie transitions smoothly between the two leads’ childhood dynamic to their present day one. Watching the different periods of time reveals how the dynamic transformed, as Catherine uses the same teasing yet nurturing tone and wording displaying how their bond carried on. It’s not only amazing to see how the casting directors have matched the child actors, Charlotte Mellington and Owen Cooper to the two leads, but also how their talents match their adult counterparts, despite the two being world renowned actors. 

As the story carries on, it delves into the more tragic parts of their lives. This can be seen when they reunite after five years and the undercurrent of tensions come to play through their bouts of passion, jealousy and pain. 

Catherine entertains and delves into emotions and even kisses and shows displays of affection despite being married to another man. 

Throughout the movie they have a tumultuous affair through multiple scenes including a carriage hookup and rain scenes. Rain is very significant to their story in the sense that every noteworthy moment in Catherine and Heathcliff’s love story occurs in it, whether good or bad. This also further keeps the connection of the bond they nurtured from the instant they met and spent time together. 

Albeit, Heathcliff exhibits behaviors of jealousy and possessiveness; Catherine manifests her pain through her declining physical health. 

“Wuthering Heights” encompasses a cliche of a forbidden love story with an element of depth that is felt in reality. 

“Wuthering Heights” is a movie for audiences that crave complexity over traditional storylines of love stories that start from childhood.