Love Lies Bleeding (2024), directed by Rose Glass, stars Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian, Ed Harris, Anna Baryshnikov, Jenna Malone, and Dave Franco. The film takes place in the 1980s and follows Lou (Stewart), a small-town girl who works at a local gym. One day she meets Jackie (O’Brian), a mysterious drifter who plans on competing in the World Body-building championship. The two quickly fall in love, but after one of them commits a violent act, their world is thrown into chaos. The couple’s relationship is put to the test after being forced to navigate the dangerous waters of Lou’s criminal father (Harris) as well as FBI agents who are hot on their trail. The question is: will their predicament bring them closer together or tear them further apart?

The performances here are one of the film’s biggest strengths. Kristen Stewart plays her character with a level of subtle nuance that once again proves she is one of the most skilled actresses working in Hollywood. Katy O’Brian is likewise impressive and gives one of the most authentic physical performances I’ve ever seen. Oftentimes in these riffs on Thelma & Louise (1991), the couple often morphs into what feels like a single character. Those films often focus too closely on the characters as a couple which often sacrifices their agency as individuals. Love Lies Bleeding does a fantastic job of balancing focus on the characters’ relationship as well as their individual struggles and/or motivations. This leads to a lot more intrigue and conflict which generally makes the film a lot more exciting/surprising. 

Ed Harris and Dave Franco also give great performances as the film’s antagonists. Ed Harris is allowed to chew the scenery in a way I’ve never seen from him. Yes, he has played countless villains in the past, but there’s a real uniqueness/quirkiness to his character that I enjoyed. Dave Franco plays against type as Lou’s scumbag brother-in-law. He is hateable in such a palpable way that I look forward to him being cast in these kinds of roles in the future.

Although the film’s story is quite unoriginal, the plot is decently complex. The film’s ability to hold onto a satisfying level of mystery throughout its runtime results in it being able to hold our focus even when we have a sneaking suspicion of where things are going. This is partly due to the film’s wonderful direction by Rose Glass. Great directors can make a familiar story feel new again, and that’s exactly what Glass does. The overarching theme of “love is no different than a drug” is nothing new, but it’s presented in a way that feels like a punch in the gut. Both drugs and love feel great, but if abused, are likely to lead a person down a dark path. 

The choice of steeping the film in a neon red tint is an effective choice that supports both the 1980s setting and the impending feeling that events might spiral out of control for our main characters. The little creative choices are what make this film unique. The focus on steroid use, familial trauma, and morally ambiguous characters results in a stew of a film that works a lot better than I would’ve expected. 

Although this film succeeds for 95% of its runtime, it slips up horribly in its climax. The film makes the common art film mistake of ending its story with a complete break of reality. I can’t go into details without spoiling it, but if you’ve seen the film, you’ll know exactly what I’m referring to. Yes, the moment is thematically meaningful, but it sacrifices the logic/reality that the rest of the film establishes. I understand the desire to subvert this kind of film’s particular formula, but it just feels desperate. Great films give both a logical ending as well as a thematic one. This film’s ending is exclusively thematic. Unless you’re a viewer who is keen on this type of ending, you’ll just find yourself laughing at the absurdity of it all.

Overall, this is a mostly great movie that only slips up in its final minutes. That being said, it’s a large slip-up that’s tough to ignore and puts a sour taste in one’s mouth. Great direction and performances help to distract us from the fact that the story is a pretty standard one. If you’re interested in this film in any way, you’ll most likely find yourself having a great (not fun) time. If anything, see this film for the Rose Glass’ direction. I can’t wait to see what she does next. B