WUTHERING HEIGHTS

Cutting through the set up and the long drawn-out consequences of actions, Arnold has chosen to dive straight into Catherine and Heathcliff’s story, and there she stays for 101 minutes, never straying. ‘Wuthering Heights’ is known just as well for its setting in the Northern England Yorkshire moors, and Arnold showcases their grey, misty, wet and wild expanses while the characters go through the minutiae of daily life. Rarely a word is spoken during the first half of the film as the stage is set for its passionate and anger-charged third act. Unfortunately it’s this lack of communication that leaves the audience with a wanting, and the lacklustre conclusion as the film's initial fresh take falls into old habits as it creeps closer to its source material.

While visually potent, ultimately the film's emotional target is never quite reached; it’s almost too cold for those moments of pure passion to rise to the surface. Saying that, admiration is most definitely deserved for Arnold’s brave and original vision, as well as her decision to cast vastly unknown actors.

For fans of the book, it’s a new way to experience the classic, but expect to walk out feeling as drained and colourless as the images you’ve just witnessed.