The 2024 erotic thriller Love Lies Bleeding can best be described as a brilliant lesbian noir themed romp. Literally showing us a New Mexico underbelly that is practically heaving with lust, love, and disturbed dreams.
Rose Glass directs and co-writes this odd and quirky dip into an off kilter romance amidst the evil lurking in the film. Glass, who rocked the world with the horror film Saint Maud, shares the writing credit with Weronika Tofilska.
The Story
Lou spends her days running a small gym in a small New Mexico town. She meets Jackie, a muscle builder headed to Las Vegas to compete. The tumbleweed existence of Jackie and the semi reclusive Lou fall in love.
Lou starts coming out of her shell only to learn that love; true love, is not easy. It can be downright murder.
The Main Cast
Kristen Stewart is Lou.
Anna Baryshnikov is Daisy.
Dave Franco is JJ.
Katy O’Brian is Jackie.
Jena Malone is Beth.
Ed Harris is Lou Sr.
Orion Carrington is O’Riley.
Desert towns are Nuts
The citizens of this New Mexico town are a little, “off in left field.” Although this is not unusual in a desert setting. A lot of recent noir films, meaning the last 20 years or so, have a cast of characters that can best be described as surreal.
Lou Sr is the local “kingpin” who relies on violence and murder to control his little kingdom. His daughter Lou runs a gym and is antisocial when she is not trying to half-heartedly quit smoking. JJ, apart from having sex with anyone with a pulse, beats his wife Beth.
Beth is Lou’s sister, a woman who seems content to be JJ’s punching bag. Daisy is a spacey and hygienically challenged woman who has a thing for Lou.
Into this interesting mix of folks, enters Jackie. A weightlifting body sculptor who meets Lou at the gym.
It is unusual
Everything is off kilter here. Lou Sr, besides being the local “big boss” owns the local gun range and collects insects. He hires Jackie after JJ introduces and recommends her. Jackie now has a link to Lou Lou before she even meets her.
The courtship of Lou and Jackie is a little slow and a little strange. Opposites do attract, apparently. Jackie is all about being physically fit. She is strong and perfectly formed. Lou is not athletic at all. She is, however, attracted to all that “animal” fitness.
Sex appears to be the main motivator, but looks can be deceiving.
Outside the box
Love Lies Bleeding is so outside the box it is nowhere near the square shaped object. There are brilliant moments of fantasy and surrealism that are pure magic. This feels like it should have a Coen Bros credit attached to it.
Standing Out
JJ and Jackie.
The fight scene with Lou Sr.
Jackie’s participation at the competition.
The ending.
The FX.
Kudos
Stewart rocks it here. She has grown so much as an actor that her Messenger days are far behind her. O’Brian is another actor who fits her role with an almost effortless ease.
Harris, as Lou Sr, almost steals the entire film. His “bug” collecting gangster is evil and off balance. Only Harris has this ability. An ability of playing disturbing characters.
Behind the camera
Cinematographer Ben Fordesman makes this one count. Each frame crackles with a certain electricity. He allows the character to move naturally regardless of the scene.
Editor Mark Towns puts everything together seamlessly.
Katie Hickman is spot on as the production designer here.
The Verdict
Love Lies Bleeding earns a full 5 out of 5 stars. This one is different with a capital D. All the character have layers and we end up, ultimately, caring for most of them. The romance between Lou Lou and Jackie is as touching as it is endearing. This is definitely one to watch.
You can stream the film on Max.
Parents Guide
Love Lies Bleeding There is a modicum of sex. The film also indulges in a bit of nudity it is, after all, rated R. There is violence and a certain amount of gore. None of these things are too “in your face,” however. But You may want to keep younger folks in the family away while viewing.
The Trailer
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