Forget Emerald Fennell's Movie, Here're the 5 Best 'Wuthering Heights' Adaptations
If you're into dark tales of love and obsession, this list is right up your alley.
Emily Brontë's classic work has been adapted for the screen numerous times.
The resulting movies and series range from faithful adaptations that preserve all the nuances of the original, to more experimental ones where directors take only the basic premise and alter the tone, time period and setting.
1. 'Wuthering Heights', 1978
IMDb Score: 6.7/10
This five-hour TV series' main strength is its exceptionally faithful and comprehensive adaptation of the book. The plot encompasses characters from different generations and includes all the key dialogue.
Furthermore, the 1978's version of Wuthering Heights does not merely attempt to be a romance – the production portrays love, class inequality, revenge and the moral redemption of the next generation.
2. 'Wuthering Heights', 2009
IMDb Score: 7.5/10
Tom Hardy and Charlotte Riley are the best couple in any screen adaptation of Wuthering Heights. The actor portrays the transformation of Heathcliff into a monster caused by pain.
His love interest is portrayed as both passionate and selfish, which makes it clear why he cannot let go of the past.
This version also covers the second half of the novel. Shot with modern cameras and featuring excellent cinematography, this version offers a more enjoyable experience than most older adaptations.
3. 'Wuthering Heights', 1988
IMDb Score: 7.0/10
This is one of the most unusual and unexpected adaptations: the setting has been moved to Japan and the time period has been shifted back several centuries to the 15th century.
Visually striking, the movie is both beautiful and unsettling, evoking classic Japanese woodblock prints while focusing on the horrors resulting from the characters' relationships. It also encompasses the second half of the novel, giving the story a greater sense of completeness.
4. 'Wuthering Heights', 1954
IMDb Score: 6.7/10
The renowned surrealist Luis Buñuel adapted the classic work for the screen, preserving its most essential element: the characters' personalities.
The setting was relocated to Mexico, with its arid landscapes and crumbling estates. Alejandro (Heathcliff) is not a romantic hero, but rather a vengeful and virtually obsessed man.
Similarly, Catalina (Catherine) is not idealised – she is unwilling to give up her life of affluence. True to form, Buñuel places the irrationality of human relationships at the heart of the story.
5. 'I Will Wait for You in Heaven', 1991
IMDb Score: 7.0/10
The 1991 adaptation gives viewers a rare opportunity to experience Philippine cinema, a film tradition with which many are unfamiliar.
Not only was the story relocated to the Batanes Islands, it was also adapted to the local culture, showcasing different perspectives on honour, wealth and social standing. The lead actors were a real-life couple, lending their characters highly convincing chemistry.
The movie also provides an opportunity to admire the stunning landscapes, which stand in stark contrast to the drabness of Britain.
