Emerald Fennell's 2026 version of Wuthering Heights isn't your typical period drama

Emerald Fennell's 2026 version of Wuthering Heights isn't your typical period drama

Watch more

it's visceral, uncomfortable, and psychologically intense in a way that feels surprisingly contemporary. Rather than giving us a polished, romanticised take on Emily Brontë's novel, Fennell delivers something much rawer. The Yorkshire moors aren't just pretty scenery—they're shot with such dramatic, wind-battered intensity that they become almost a character themselves, reflecting the turbulent emotions tearing through the story. Every gust of wind and dark skyline seems to mirror the destructive obsession consuming the characters.

Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are what make this film truly compelling. Robbie's Catherine is caught between vulnerability and defiance, a woman who's both fragile and fierce. Elordi's Heathcliff is mesmerising and genuinely unsettling—a figure driven by obsession who dominates every scene he's in. Together, they create something primal on screen. Their connection feels less like romance and more like mutual destruction.

Fennell deliberately strips away the romantic sheen that usually coats Wuthering Heights adaptations. What she gives us instead is an unflinching look at passion, cruelty, and vengeance. This approach will likely split audiences down the middle: some will find the jagged pacing and relentless emotional assault draining, whilst others will appreciate its uncompromising honesty. But that fearlessness is exactly what makes it memorable.

At its core, this Wuthering Heights isn't really a love story at all. It's more like being caught in a storm—violent, striking, and impossible to look away from. Fennell's vision crashes across the screen demanding an emotional response rather than passive viewing. She's made something that stays with you long after the credits roll, unsettling and impossible to shake off.