Love Lies Bleeding arrives at cinemas next week

The latest movie by renowned actress Kristen Stewart “Love Lies Bleeding” is a romantic thriller directed by Rose Glass

A 2024 romantic thriller, “Love Lies Bleeding,” marks the second feature film by director Rose Glass. She co-wrote the screenplay with Weronika Tofilska. This British-American co-production stars Kristen Stewart as a reclusive gym manager entangled with a crime family. Katy O’Brian portrays an ambitious bodybuilder who enters the manager’s life. The film includes LGBTIQ+ themes as they both enter a situationship. The supporting cast includes Jena Malone, Anna Baryshnikov, Dave Franco, and Ed Harris.

Set in 1989, the film premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in January. In the first place, A24 released it theatrically in the United States on March 8, 2024, while Lionsgate is slated for a UK release on May 3, 2024. In the rest of Europe it’s set to premiere on April 12.

The movie has been very hyped since its presentation at Sundance

“Love Lies Bleeding” debuted on the international stage at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival‘s Midnight section on January 20th. Following its US premiere, the film traveled across the Atlantic for its European debut at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival on February 18th, gracing the prestigious Berlinale Special Gala section. In addition, The UK premiere capped off the film’s festival run at the Glasgow Film Festival on February 28th.

As a British-American co-production, “Love Lies Bleeding” marks the sophomore feature film by English director Rose Glass. In this case, following her critically acclaimed debut, “Saint Maud,” Rose Glass attracted the attention of actress Kristen Stewart, who expressed interest in the project in March 2022. Following that, April saw the official confirmation of Stewart‘s casting. Rounding out the cast in June were Anna Baryshnikov, Katy O’Brian (who reportedly auditioned six times for her first leading role), Dave Franco, Ed Harris, and Jena Malone. Filming commenced in Albuquerque, New Mexico in June 2022 and wrapped by August of the same year.

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The plot includes LGBTIQ+ representation among many other themes

Mild Spoilers in this section

Set in 1989, “Love Lies Bleeding” follows the volatile relationship between Lou (Kristen Stewart), a reclusive gym manager, and Jackie(Katie O’Brian), an ambitious bodybuilder on the road to a Las Vegas competition. Their initial infatuation takes a dark turn when Lou offers Jackie steroids, fueling her competitive drive but jeopardizing her emotional stability.

Unbeknownst to Lou, Jackie has a complex past. She recently fled an abusive relationship with her sister’s husband and seeks refuge with Lou. However, tensions escalate when Lou discovers their past encounter. This revelation, coupled with witnessing her sister’s injuries inflicted by the same man, fuels a rage in Jackie that leads her to brutally murder him.

Official poster of Love Lies Bleeding (Source: A24)

Forced to cover up the crime, Lou becomes entangled in a web of violence orchestrated by her own estranged father, Lou Sr (Ed Harris). A ruthless criminal, Lou Sr. manipulates both Jackie and Lou, exploiting their vulnerabilities for his own gain. He blackmails Lou into a relationship with a woman named Daisy (Anna Baryshnikov) who witnessed the initial murder, and coerces Jackie to kill Daisy in exchange for freedom.

The film had a very good reception

Even thou “Love Lies Bleeding” debuted in a limited release, it earned a respectable $276,618 from just five theaters, averaging a strong $55,324 per venue. The film expanded significantly the following weekend, entering 1,362 theaters and grossing $2.5 million, securing a sixth-place finish at the box office. As can be seen, the film has been very well-received since its first release.

Critical reception for the film has been really positive. Rotten Tomatoes boasts a 93% approval rating from critics, with an average score of 7.8 out of 10. The website’s consensus praises the film as a “well-acted addition to writer-director Rose Glass‘ growing body of exceptional work.” Similarly, Metacritic assigns the film a score of 76 out of 100, indicating “generally favorable” reviews based on a weighted average of 49 critics’ scores. Audience reception aligns with critics, with PostTrak reporting a 78% positive score and an average 3.5 out of 5 stars.

In a review for the New York Times, Manohla Dargis acknowledges the film’s influences, including James M. Cain, Jim Thompson, David Lynch, and the Coen Brothers. However, she argues that “Love Lies Bleeding” effectively transcends these influences, remaining engaging and offering unique interpretations of its reference points. Dargis concludes by commending director Rose Glass for her creative use of established cinematic themes. Consequently, the expectation for the film in countries where it has not been released is very high.