As a Yorkshire lass who grew up where Emily BrontĂ« crafted her literary masterpieces, I am deeply disturbed by this Regency-era Fifty Shades of Grey parody. Now, Iâll be honest, I havenât seen the film; I wasnât about to waste my time on it. Even from the trailer, you can see that (for those who have read Wuthering Heights or are familiar with the story) it would not respect the gothic classic. The director, Emerald Fennell, even said from the start, when the film was announced back in 2024, that it would not be a by-the-book adaptation. Why make a film about one of the greatest female British authors if you arenât going to respect her work?
Wuthering Heights is set on the Yorkshire Moors, and the character of Heathcliff was picked up from Liverpool and is described as âa dark-skinned gipsy in aspectâ. This âaspectâ being the reason why he faces so much abuse from his âadoptedâ family, especially from Hindley – but sure, cast the white, Australian Jacob Elordi. Some comments point out that BrontĂ« made Heathcliffâs heritage ambiguous in the book by referring to him by many colonised ethnicities, so that his appearance would never fit into high society. Certainly not the society that his beloved Catherine inherits. Jacob Elordi does not resemble someone who would stand out in high 19th-century society. It should be noted that Fennell is not the first director to cast Heathcliff as white. However, it feels, as many BrontĂ« fans agree, that it is an erasure of a large part of Heathcliffâs characterisation and why he turned out the way he did in the end.
This is NOT a romance book. Starting around 1760, spanning around forty years, starting when Heathcliff and Catherine were young children and ending a couple of years after Heathcliffâs death. Heathcliff is not a good man, and the trope that Catherine can somehow âfix himâ is nauseating. Abusive men, which is what Heathcliff turns into, being âfixedâ by the power of love from one woman, is boring, sad and again nauseating. Heathcliff leaves Wuthering Heights after Cathy is engaged to another man for three years, only to come back to marry Isabella, whom he treats horribly. He encourages an alcoholic, widowed Hindley into more debt and essentially ruins him; imprisons his dead loverâs (Catherine’s) daughter, and essentially traps her into marriage with his own estranged, sickly son. He does this just to be in line of succession for another manor house after already taking Wuthering Heights. What about this storyline says âOh yes, let’s do a steamy, bodice-ripping and longing-middle-distance-stares piece.â
Costumes! My biggest pet peeve is costumes; it can make or break a movie for me, and from the trailer and stillâŠ. What were they actually thinking? A bright, crimson, latex skirt? A black shiny corset, and a pink unicorn shimmering sheer strapless dress? This is not Fifty Shades of Grey or Barbie! These sorts of decisions are not new in recent Hollywood productions; many criticisms related to season three of Bridgerton are related to costume choices and Regency accuracy.
I know I have complained a lot about this, and you’re probably thinking, âWell, if you donât like it, donât watch it!â I won’t be, but then you may be thinking, âIf you havenât watched it, how can you criticise it?â This is because, dear reader, we are in the worst cinematic slump since the filmâs production began. I think for many, like myself, we are fed up with poor adaptations, sequels, and reboots scraping the bottom of the money-making barrel. I can not remember the last time a true original concept hit the big screens: Wuthering Heights is an adaptation from a book; Wicked from Broadway; there are more Avatar sequels, and a How to Train Your Dragon live-action remake. Come on, people, have an original idea and run with it! I am only asking directors and producers to actually invest in creative thinking and storytelling. How can we be out of ideas in 140 years! Sinners managed to do it, and they are up for the BAFTAs and Oscars, and won Grammys and Golden Globes. K-pop Demon Hunters, the most delightful, surprising animated film of 2025, is breaking global records; they are winning awards and that is original content!
I am a deeply proud Northern lass, and not many media pieces ever acknowledge our little corner of the world. Emily BrontĂ« and her sisters were deeply inspired by the Moors in which they resided. It influenced their writing and greatly impacted their local community for what is now well over the past 170 years. It saddens me that Emilyâs deeply intelligent work is being passed off as what is essentially explicit fanfiction (seriously, what was up with kneading the bread?) If this piece wins any awards, I will be questioning Hollywoodâs, obviously declining, sanity.
Editor: Tamima Islam