Love Lies Bleeding

Love Lies Bleeding tells the story of Lou(Kristen Stewart), who works in a gym. Lou falls in love with Jackie(Katy O'Brian), an aspiring bodybuilder who is passing through town, before competing in a bodybuilding competition in Las Vegas.

Love Lies Bleeding is a good film. Director Rose Glass has given us a movie that is unique, gripping, has plenty of shock value & keeps the audience on the edge of their seats, throughout. However, one major flaw is that it tries to mix too many genres & themes. The ending of the film is quite bad & is unintentionally funny, too. The performances are the highlight of the movie. Kristen Stewart is spectacular as Lou. Katy O'Brian is awe-inspiring as Jackie. Stewart & O'Brian share electrifying chemistry, in all their scenes together. Anna Baryshnikov is outstanding as Daisy. Dave Franco is unforgettable as JJ. Jenna Malone is brilliant as Beth. Ed Harris is outstanding as Lou Sr. The supporting cast is excellent. Love Lies Bleeding is worth a watch if you want to watch an original story. Just be prepared for a rollercoaster of a ride!

Rose Glass, the visionary director behind Saint Maud, throws another punch with Love Lies Bleeding, a neo-noir crime thriller that's both stylish and unsettling. Lou, a cautious gym manager, has her world turned upside down when she develops feelings for Jackie, a dedicated bodybuilder in Las Vegas training for a competition (Katie O'Brian). Sparks fly, but their budding romance gets entangled with Lou's dark family secrets, propelling them down a violent path.

Love Lies Bleeding isn't afraid to push boundaries. It evokes memories of classic thrillers like Body Double, with its neon-drenched aesthetic and underlying themes of obsession and desire. However, Glass injects a contemporary dose of female empowerment, subverting the stereotypical femme fatale trope. Jackie isn't just a damsel in distress; she's a complex character with her own agency, which adds a layer of intrigue to the narrative.

The film's greatest strength lies in its central performances. Stewart delivers a raw and intense portrayal of Lou, a woman yearning for connection but burdened by her past. O'Brian matches her intensity, embodying the steely determination and vulnerability of Jackie with remarkable nuance. Their chemistry is undeniable, making us invested in their tumultuous relationship, even as things spiral out of control.

While the plot takes some wild turns, it's the film's thematic exploration that lingers. Glass dissects the destructive nature of desire, and the lengths people go to in the name of love-or perhaps, obsession. The violence, though brutal, feels purposeful, serving as a metaphor for the emotional turmoil the characters endure.

Admittedly, the pacing can be uneven at times. The first act establishes the characters and their connection beautifully, but the middle section drags a bit as the focus shifts towards the criminal underbelly. However, the film regains its momentum in the final act, culminating in a climax that's both shocking and strangely cathartic.

Technically, Love Lies Bleeding is a knockout. The cinematography is sharp, using bold colours and contrasting lighting to create a visually arresting world. The pounding score complements the film's intensity, while the editing keeps the narrative taut without sacrificing character development.

Love Lies Bleeding isn't for the faint of heart. It's a film that revels in its own darkness, challenging us with its graphic violence and unconventional love story. But for those seeking a neo-noir experience that's both thrilling and thought-provoking, this is a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

Love Lies Bleeding is a film with flaws, but its bold direction, phenomenal performances, and exploration of complex themes make it a worthwhile watch, especially for fans of unconventional thrillers. Just be prepared for a wild ride.

A24 delivers again, a movie that is going to make you go "What did I just watch!?" and that's classic A24 i guess. You may/may not like the film, but you'll surely talk about it. Kristen Stewart and Katy o'Brian were fantastic in this "dark and gritty", "romantic-thriller-drama" film (that is not family friendly, for obvious reasons which you'll either find unnecessary for the plot to move or might feel like they were absolute value ads to the chemistry between the lead) that has some amazing sound design, commentary on female empowerment, and some elements of....fiction...? With an ending that's surely going to have you asking questions and coming up with your own interpretation of what you just saw.

Watch it if you like A24 content!

"Love Lies Bleeding" is a film that thrives in its own niche, daring to be both over-the-top and deeply atmospheric. It's a world where everything, from its violent outbursts to its steamy intimacy, feels purposeful-an intricate blend of camp, nostalgia, and chaos. At its core, this movie is a study of excess in its most raw form, drawing on elements of classic action cinema while flipping gender roles and expectations on their head.

One of the movie's standout qualities is its commitment to visual storytelling. The cinematography is nothing short of breathtaking. Every shot feels deliberate, with the careful attention to detail elevating the film beyond what could have been a simple B-movie homage into something visually compelling and emotionally charged. Ben Fordesman's direction provides a layer of sincerity that helps ground the more outlandish elements of the film.

The performances are another highlight, with Katy O'Brien and Kristen Stewart shining in roles that could easily have slipped into caricature if not handled with such intensity and nuance. O'Brien, in particular, commands attention with her imposing presence, while Stewart's portrayal of a character tangled in family trauma and chaos is both chaotic and captivating. The chemistry between the two is palpable, creating an interesting dynamic that powers the emotional core of the film.

However, "Love Lies Bleeding" isn't without its flaws. The pacing occasionally dips, and while the campy nature of the film is intentional, there are moments where it feels like it strays a bit too far into the absurd, potentially leaving some viewers disengaged. The film also dances around its themes of vengeance and redemption with mixed results, leaving certain narrative beats feeling more hollow than profound.

The dialogue, while sharp and often witty, can be a bit heavy-handed at times, as the movie clearly enjoys reveling in its own metaphorical and symbolic richness. That being said, if you're willing to embrace its heightened reality, it does offer plenty of material for interpretation and rewatching.

What truly sets "Love Lies Bleeding" apart is its unapologetic embrace of everything that makes it strange, from its hyper-stylized violence to its seductive surrealism. The film doesn't just follow in the footsteps of its influences-it creates its own singular experience that somehow manages to feel both timeless and contemporary.

For those looking for a film that doesn't fit neatly into a genre box and is willing to engage with its chaotic, offbeat world, "Love Lies Bleeding" is a wild, unforgettable ride. But if you're after something more grounded or conventional, this might not be the film for you.

In the end, "Love Lies Bleeding" is an acquired taste-one that will leave some mesmerized and others scratching their heads. Either way, it's certainly not a film you'll forget easily.

Sadly the film isn't as amazing as I hoped it would be.

The two main characters have great chemistry and the style of the movie is pretty cool but the script is kinda lame. I don't mind a simple story but in this case it felt like there was missed potential somehow. I really expected to love this movie but even though it had some very nice moments and the direction was superb, it was a bit of a letdown.

I feel like there was nothing I could take away from the story - nothing I learned...

And at the same time, even though the style is cool, this type of look and music for a film of this genre is pretty standard these days when it comes to independent films. It's the old "Drive" Nicolas Winding Refn thing from the perspective of a female director. I feel like this type of movie is starting to get a bit old maybe.

This is definitely not a must-see, but you will probably have a good time in the cinema if you are into the trailer.