-Written by Kyle Bain.
On her way through town Jackie (Katy O’Brian) falls for gym manager Lou (Kristen Stewart). What initially feels like a fairytale love story quickly becomes something horrific and deadly. Love Lies Bleeding is a revenge story for the ages, as the young couple is forced to make life-altering decisions, never knowing exactly what the future holds.
Stewart has come a long way since her days playing Bella in the Twilight saga. She’s found her place in cinema and proven to the world that her ability to play powerful and gritty characters is equal to that of some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Love Lies Bleeding sees her lead the charge through a dramatic hellscape of love and death that manages to twist and turn in ways that most modern cinema has struggled to. In a truly original film, Stewart is provided the ability to showcase her talents, and she shines in even the darkest moments of the film. Surrounded by the likes of renowned actors like Ed Harris (Lou Sr.) and Dave Franco (JJ), she not only holds her own, she thrives throughout Love Lies Bleeding.
Stewart does a brilliant job of keeping the tone of the film cohesive and, yet, wildly juxtapositional. Writer Weronika Tofilska and Writer-Director Rose Glass have set this film against the relatively drab backdrop of the 1980’s American southwest. The often arid landscapes drive forward a gritty and somber tone that is juxtaposed by splashes of red that work to both strengthen those tones and allow the film to branch out. Love Lies Bleeding, even in its most passionate moments, treads a dramatic line–and this is what appeals to viewers. As multiple storylines run parallel to one another, those instances of red remind us of what is hiding somewhere in the darkness–and what initially appears to be a straight forward love story eventually shifts dramatically into something far more intense. Glass’ ability to stretch her film through the use of color is brilliant, and it constantly instills in viewers a sense of anxiety that is essential to this viewing experience.
Similar to the use of color, Glass sets the tone of Love Lies Bleeding through the score. Developed by Clint Mansell, the score consists of dark, intense tones that strengthen the narrative and magnify nearly every moment of the film from the opening seconds on.
Let’s talk about the ending of Love Lies Bleeding. The final act of the film is steeped in symbolism, but what was a relatively grounded film up to this point suddenly becomes something far different–full of wild and other-worldly visuals. Viewers had sort of been prepared for what eventually came to be, but I’m not sure that we could have anticipated something like what actually happened. It’s so hard to navigate this part of the film without spoiling it, but just know that the ending is far beyond what you are able to fathom. Love Lies Bleeding ends on a note not unbecoming, but difficult to wrap your head around and accept.
In this character-driven drama, Love Lies Bleeding travels a relatively linear path–introducing new themes and ideas, but never veering far from what is initially established in the film. Time and time again Tofilska and Glass shock us with new content, but nothing is ever too far-fetched, nothing outside of the realm of possibility. Not until the final act of the film do things get wonky–truly outlandish. Again, this certainly doesn’t ruin the film, but there’s something about it that takes a minute or two to stomach. Love Lies Bleeding becomes challenging toward its conclusion–but this is an otherwise powerful film that opens viewers’ eyes to the struggles of love.
Directed by Rose Glass.
Written by Rose Glass & Weronika Tofilska.
Starring Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian, Anna Baryshnikov, Jena Malone, Dave Franco, Ed Harris, etc.
8.5/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING
