OK for kids 14+
Contemplative adaptation focuses on teen passion and angst.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that director Andrea Arnold's adaptation of Wuthering Heights isn't a start-to-finish version of the novel but rather a focused account of the first half of the tragic love story. There's a great deal more language ("c--t," "f--k," "s--t," and more) in this unrated film than previous screen incarnations of Emily Bronte's classic. And while there are considerably fewer gothic elements in the movie than in the book, there's still a great deal of sexual chemistry between Cathy and Heathcliff, who go from horsing around and wrestling as kids to kissing passionately as adults (they also see another couple having sex in a field). A few characters die, and there are violent scenes of Heathcliff being flogged, farm animals being hunted and readied to eat, Cathy being attacked by a hound, and a wife being pushed around and locked in a room.
- Families can talk about why this literary romance is so revered -- particularly among teen readers/moviegoers. How do Cathy and Heathcliff compare to other doomed lovers?
- What forces keep Cathy and Heathcliff apart? What choices do each of them make that led to their separation?
- Those familiar with the novel: How does the movie change your perspective of Heathcliff by leaving out the part of the book where he enacts his intricate form of revenge on Edgar and Hindley?
The good stuff
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Messages: In hindsight, it's easy to see that the message of Wuthering Heights is that, ideally, love shouldn't be limited by social status and circumstance -- that true love should prevail over societal constructs. But the story is also a cautionary tale about how obsessive love can become and how it can transform lovers kept apart into bitter and sickly shells of themselves.
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Role models: Mr. Earnshaw adopts Heathcliff -- a homeless orphan boy -- when he had no reason to do so other than charity. Cathy sees beyond Heathcliff's status and into his heart. She loves him even though it isn't wise for them to be together. Still, despite their love for each other, Cathy and Heathcliff aren't the best role models: They're obsessed with each other, and, instead of communicating openly about their prospects of being together, they both make irrevocable mistakes that cost them their happiness.
What to watch for
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Violence: Heathcliff is beaten brutally on more than one occasion. He's once flogged so badly that it leaves bloody scars on his back. Catherine is attacked by a hound and can barely walk, forcing her to convalesce in a neighbor's estate. More than one character dies. A husband pushes his wife and locks her in a room. There's also the graphic killing of animals for food on the Earnshaw farm.
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Sex: In one scene, a young Heathcliff sees a couple having sex in the field; some vague thrusting and moaning can be seen/heard. Heathcliff and Cathy don't consummate their relationship, but they do share several moments of intimacy and closeness. As young teens, they roll around on top of each other, and Cathy kisses Heathcliff's wounds. In the last portion of the film, couples kiss -- sometimes quite passionately. There's brief nonsexual male nudity as dead Mr. Earnshaw's body is washed.
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Language: Several uses of the word "c--t." Other profanities include "f--k," "s--t," "arse," "whore," and more.
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Consumerism: Not an issue
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Cathy's brother Hindley becomes a drunk after his wife's death. He's often seen with a drink in his hand.
Fan Reviews provided by
4
Wuthering Heights (2012) by Jlauren731
As close to the novel as anyone's come yet. Beautiful direction that makes the Yorkshire moors come alive, helping portray Bronte's key theme. It's dark and conflicted, but so is the novel, something many people overlook. Not perfect, but very much worth seeing.
1
Seriously horrible Movie by jmpfahl
IMO this is probably one of the worst movies I've seen!! I will give the disclaimer that I wasn't a huge fan of the book, however this movie was still bad. The people who made this film took it to a very dark and icky place. I just really don't remember a lot of the twisted sadistic aspects they put in there. Maybe I missed it in the book which is possible it's been a long time. However my biggest issue with the movie was the actual filming. It's enough to give you motion sickness, I had to close my eyes a number of times in the movie to keep from getting sick. Oh and what was up with the dogs? Seriously the filming went like this nature, people staring at each other, dogs, beetle, wind, dogs, mud, people say a few words and stare, dogs, grass, mud, dogs, wind dogs. Super weird and just to me a bad movie!! Even my friend who likes the story looked at me and was like I'm so sorry for asking you to come see this that was the most horrible thing I've ever seen!!!
3
i was not impressed with this one by marriedmyego
I belive masterpiece Theater had the best adaptation of wuthering heights tom hardy in my opinion played the best heathcliff and Dialect stayed true to the era in the story timeline if your a wuthering heights fan its available on netflicks .
4
Words from an English major by macktan
This version of WH is like none you've seen before. But if you've read the book--closely--then this cinematic view will more closely match Emily Bronte's worldview. It is intriguing.
But, I warn you--this is a slowly paced film. The camera lingers on scenes and glances so long that you often have to remind yourself where you are in the story. I suggest extreme caffeination or indulging in some other stimulant before viewing this film if you have a tendency to nod off in slow movies, as I do.
My only other complaint was the depiction of Heathcliff. While I applaud casting James Howson, a man of color, as Heathcliff (which existing scholarship has long agreed on, that Heathcliff was probably of mixed race), I don't think Howson ever achieves the gravitas of Bronte's monstrous character.
In any case, you will enjoy this film.