Love Lies Bleeding feels like a drug trip on adrenaline from start to finish. Filled with gore, uncomfortable sequences, and a bonkers third act, it’s sure to be polarizing.
Love Lies Bleeding takes viewers on an absolute journey that is filled with twists and turns, insane amounts of gore, and uncomfortable sequences. The sound, the cinematography, and the effects make this one a wild ride and something that must be experienced in theaters.
When Jackie (Katy M. O’Brian), a woman with dreams of becoming a body building champion, shows up in a small town, she instantly has a connection with Crater gym employee, Lou (Kristen Stewart). It doesn’t long for their hot and heavy relationship to bloom out of control and weave them into a web of violence. Lou’s father (Ed Harris) is a crime boss and not someone you want to be on the wrong side of, however something in their past has caused the father and daughter to have a strained relationship.
As expected, Kristen Stewart’s performance is incredible. She is one of the best actors of her generation, which she proves time and time again. But the Love Lies Bleeding standout is hands down Katy M. O’Brian. She stole the show in her recent episodes of The Mandalorian, but she truly shines here. Leaning full throttle into this character who is unsure how to deal with her anger, and is extremely emotional, audiences will always have their eyes on her.
Ed Harris is as terrifying as always, even in the subtle ways he portrays it with this role. We would be remise to not mention Dave Franco as well. He plays Lou’s brother-in-law, JJ, and fans have never seen him like this before. It is easy to hate him from the start, which says a lot considering his boyish charm and good looks (which are dulled down by a fake mullet).
While the story itself seems to go all over the place at times, the core of the plot is intriguing. When things take a sudden turn in act two, with some well deserved violence, things really heat up. There are many times where Love Lies Bleeding goes off the rails, but in a way that completely fits the film. There is a lot happening here, and things often feel like a bad trip and an adrenaline rush all at once.
Some moments are uncomfortable to watch because you almost feel as if you are a voyeur, peeking through the window and seeing intimate moments that are not meant to be shared with you. At the same time, some scenes are hard to watch because of how graphic and gory they are — almost feeling like they are put there just to shock you, which they will. That being said, they make this movie all the more fun.
Love Lies Bleeding combines impressive storytelling, incredible performances, and a twisted story about love, revenge, and violence. The third act takes things too far at times, making it hard to understand what is actually happening, and what is being imagined by the characters (because THAT can’t have really happened…right?).
Still, this movie will have people talking, which is a good thing. This is one that viewers will surely not forget any time soon.
A drug trip on adrenaline from start to finish. Filled with gore, uncomfortable sequences, and a bonkers third act, it’s sure to be polarizing — but you have to admit it is quite entertaining.
Rating: 3 out of 5
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About Love Lies Bleeding
From Director Rose Glass comes an electric new love story; reclusive gym manager Lou falls hard for Jackie, an ambitious bodybuilder headed through town to Vegas in pursuit of her dream. But their love ignites violence, pulling them deep into the web of Lou’s criminal family.
