Emerald Fennell's upcoming adaptation of Wuthering Heights has sparked controversy after a test screening revealed explicit content, including BDSM scenes. The film, starring Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, reportedly deviates significantly from Emily Brontë's classic novel.
According to World of Reel, the film opens with a public hanging that descends into absurdity, with the condemned man ejaculating mid-execution, prompting an orgiastic frenzy among the crowd. Other scenes include purposeful masturbation, a bondage encounter using horse reins, and suggestive textures like egg yolks and slug trails.
Director Fennell, known for her provocative style in Saltburn, has drawn criticism from Brontë fans over casting choices, particularly Elordi as Heathcliff, who is described in the book as dark-skinned. The film's casting director, Kharmel Cochrane, defended the decisions, stating that the set design is even more shocking and may include a dog collar.
The film is set for release on Valentine's Day and has already faced backlash over Robbie's Eighties-style wedding dress in set photos. Critics argue that the actors are too old for the teenage characters, though the novel also depicts Heathcliff as an adult later in the story.
