I am not entirely sure what I watched, however, I adored this film. “Love Lies Bleeding” is a gritty directorial effort by Rose Glass, who also co-wrote the script with Weronika Tofilksa. My eyes were constantly glued to the screen, always wondering what was going to happen next. Stewart delivers a vulnerable and confused performance — her character is consistently in over her head, and since the audience is endeared to her point of view., we’re also in over our heads. Katy O’Brian’s performance as the co-lead felt raw and manic; nothing she did felt anything less than emotional. So much of the film is dedicated to the relationship these two characters develop from the early moments of the story that by the credits I really bought the connection the pair had formed. There were a plethora of standing shots and surrealist movements to carry me through the end of this film. I encourage any fans of romantic thrillers to give this film a watch, they will not be disappointed.
Back of the DVD Summary: The movie begins with Lou (Kristen Stewart) working at a gym seemingly in the 80s, but the time period is not clear. A newcomer to the town Jackie (Katy O’Brian) lands at the same gym Lou’s at. The pair quickly hit it off, as Jackie expresses her desire to win a bodybuilding competition in Vegas. Lurking in the background, Lou Sr. (Ed Harris) runs a mysterious mob-like organization that ostensibly has the town in a vice. While Lou and Jackie fall further and further in love, an unexpected murder propels the couple into uncharted, violent territories, begging the question: How far would you go for love?
The best way to describe this film is intense. It is because of that intensity the more edgy, shocking moments feel so visceral. The kills in this film were dripping with a strong sense of reality, the way bodies fell and broke felt a little too real. Central to the tension of the film was the antagonist Ed Harris, whose cool attitude paired with an affection for bugs and guns made him a menacing figure throughout. Two issues I did have with his character were a lack of screen time and a lack of clarity on what exactly the nefarious business is that he was up to.
Otherwise, the cast and nasty city streets created an eerie atmosphere for Stewart and Katy to lurk about. More so than any film this year, this one is a see it to believe it kind of film. So much of it is an enthralling experience just dripping sweat, lust, love and blood. The actual plot and story of the film is a little thin, it is essentially a love story. While it is not a film’s job to be a vessel for representation, it should be brought up when the representation is not only well done, but is a key part of the story being told.
The ending is the most head scratching portion of the film, which is a bit disappointing because the film was really engaging and tense, but an artistic decision at the end broke my immersion unfortunately. Beside that hiccup of confusion, the rest of the film was very enjoyable. I would say that this film is not for the faint of heart, there are some very graphic scenes to be sure. What is guaranteed however, is that you will have a memorable time at the movie regardless if you love it or hate it.