Love Lies Bleeding is one of those movies that we are not sure what to expect and in this case against all the social drama now days it deliver a great performance, just because I gave it a 7 does not mean I did not like the movie, on the other hand I feel critics giving a 9.5 is just exaggerated. Set in New Mexico in the year 1989, this film is directed by Rose Glass in her feature film debut after the critically acclaimed Saint Maud. We are introduced to Lou, played by Kristen Stewart a gym manager who is trapped in a town because of her sister’s abusive partner. Meet Jackie an aspiring bodybuilder played by Katy O’Brian, a woman who comes into town with nothing but her suitcase they meet and a love affair sparks up the moment they see each other, that goes along with crime and a lot of drama. As I expected this is not a simple romantic movie it is a story of life, of fight and of the ways people try to free themselves from the chains they are in. It is a film of many genres, neo noir with a hint of horror and some black comedy too, which takes place in the 80s. The film is a true example of Glass’s talent in writing a story that is intriguing and at the same time disturbing, with characters that are as imperfect as they are compelling. On this blog post I try ti describe my perspective and impression at the actors, the plot, the unexpected turns and the themes that make this movie one of the best films of this year 2024.
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19637052/
- Platform: Amazon Prime Video
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Jackie on the total opposite side is a force of nature, a bodybuilder who wants to get her big break and win a competition in Las Vegas, she is a woman on a mission. Katy O’Brian does an amazing job in portraying Jackie and her desire and conflict, she looks different and that is quite striking but what is even more remarkable is the change in her character. The chemistry between Lou and Jackie is very good and the two characters are the most developed in the film, it is a love story where both characters are at their best and at their worst with each other.
The cast of supporting characters is also rather strong with Jena Malone who portrays the role of Lou’s sister, a woman who is trapped in a cycle of violence, while Dave Franco is rather spooky as her husband. Ed Harris is the best among the cast as Lou Sr. , an owner of a shooting range who is also a criminal, his character is omnipresent in the movie and gives the film a sense of threat and chaos.
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There is no lack of action and some of the scenes are quite gory and intense, but it is not senseless violence; every violent action has a motive and is used to advance the plot and the characters’ development, it does not felt flat or disoriented. The film also has elements of identity and self care, especially in relation to bodybuilding, it is not only the story of how she changes her look but also the story of how she learns who she is and what she can do.
The ending of the film is something that has to be seen as the director did a great job with building up the tension, when Lou and Jackie go head to head against Lou Sr. , the tension rises to an all new level, it is a great climax and I think every time people confront a bully in their life and overcome, it does feel like starting fresh, similar case to what happen here.
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The music score of the film by Clint Mansell is in complete sync with the visuals of the film, coming from an era with lots of classics as background music, it is a combination of electronic music and some rather OG tunes that complement the movie. The music is very well integrated, especially the songs of the eighties that give a sense of deja vu to the events of the film, lots of nostalgia for a large part of the audience, 80s is not too far from were we at.
One of the most significant advantages of the movie is the author’s ability to combine different genres, it is neo noir but there are also shades of horror, romance and black comedy with this kind of a hybrid approach is rather puzzling and the audience is never quite sure what to anticipate next so the movie does not become that predictable.
Love Lies Bleeding remains a shocking piece of work in contemporary film making, in my opinion Rose Glass has made a film that not only bend the norms of the horror genre but other type of "norms" genres, especially those concerning queer representation. It is a credit to Glass’s skill as a filmmaker that the movie can be so effectively a neo noir while also being so raw and emotional with the final scene of the film is especially important for queer cinema because it shows that Lou and Jackie can finally overcome all the obstacles and do not fall prey to the “Bury Your Gays” trope that has been used in Hollywood for so long. I think might be change of pace as it portrays queer characters as being able to be the main characters of a story without it being a tragedy. Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian are excellent in their roles and given a lot of screen presence to their characters, Stewart is quite good as Lou, who is both sensitive and strong, while O’Brian’s Jackie is an emotional force of nature who is also very physical. Despite the fact that the film can be quite violent and the plot is rather non linear, it is impossible to deny that it is a masterpiece that explores the themes of love, power, and survival in a rather unconventional way, in a culture where the cinema tends to be rather conventional, Love Lies Bleeding is a radical and unforgettable film.
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