Sarah walked into the theater expecting another cozy period drama, complete with rolling hills and romantic walks in the English countryside. Instead, she found herself gripping her armrest as Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights opened with a public hanging scene that left the entire audience stunned into silence.
The shocking opening wasn’t just random controversy for clicks. It was a deliberate creative choice that set the tone for what would become one of the most talked-about literary adaptations in recent memory. While some viewers walked out during those first few minutes, others found themselves completely captivated by Fennell’s bold vision.
What Sarah and thousands of other moviegoers experienced was Fennell’s unflinching commitment to showing the raw, dangerous world that Emily Brontë originally wrote about—a world that many sanitized period dramas have forgotten.
Why Fennell Started With Death and Danger
The Wuthering Heights adaptation doesn’t ease viewers into its world. Instead, it throws them headfirst into a public execution scene that immediately establishes the brutal reality of 19th-century Yorkshire. This wasn’t shock value for its own sake, according to Fennell.
“With the first moments of a film, you need to set the tone and say what it is,” Fennell explained in a recent interview. “This is a deeply felt romance. But I also wanted people to understand that it would be surprising and darkly funny and perhaps stranger than they would expect.”
The hanging scene serves multiple purposes in Fennell’s vision. It establishes the harsh social realities of the time period while introducing audiences to young Cathy’s complex character—someone who appears frightened but is actually fascinated by the dangerous spectacle.
This opening choice reflects Fennell’s broader approach to the material. Rather than creating another pretty costume drama, she wanted to capture what she calls “the Gothic” nature of Brontë’s original work.
Breaking Down the Creative Decisions Behind the Opening
Fennell’s approach to adapting Wuthering Heights involved several key creative decisions that set her version apart from previous film adaptations. Here are the main elements she focused on:
- Historical authenticity: Showing the brutal realities of 19th-century life instead of romanticizing the period
- Character complexity: Introducing Cathy as someone drawn to danger rather than repelled by it
- Tonal balance: Mixing romance with dark comedy and psychological complexity
- Gothic atmosphere: Emphasizing the supernatural and unsettling elements of Brontë’s work
- Visual storytelling: Using shocking imagery to communicate themes immediately
The director also made specific choices about how to film the hanging scene. Rather than focusing purely on the violence, the camera captures the crowd’s reactions and particularly young Cathy’s conflicted response to the spectacle.
| Previous Adaptations | Fennell’s Version |
|---|---|
| Romantic, atmospheric openings | Stark, confrontational hanging scene |
| Beautiful countryside establishing shots | Social realism and class tensions |
| Cathy as innocent heroine | Cathy as complex, danger-seeking character |
| Focus on sweeping romance | Balance of romance, darkness, and humor |
“It was important to acknowledge early on that arousal and danger are kind of the same thing—that is what the Gothic is,” Fennell noted, explaining her philosophical approach to the adaptation.
How Audiences and Critics Are Responding
The controversial opening has created a clear divide among viewers of the Wuthering Heights adaptation. Some praise Fennell’s courage in presenting an unvarnished version of the story, while others feel the opening is unnecessarily disturbing.
Box office numbers show the film has been commercially successful despite—or perhaps because of—the controversy. The opening weekend drew curious viewers who had heard about the shocking first scene, leading to strong initial sales.
Film critics have been similarly divided. Some appreciate Fennell’s commitment to showing the dangerous world that Brontë wrote about, arguing that too many period dramas sanitize historical realities.
“We have this idea that the world of period dramas was fragrant and beautiful and pastel and lovely. It wasn’t at all. It was a dangerous place to live in,” Fennell emphasized when defending her creative choices.
Other critics argue that the opening scene overshadows the rest of the film and creates an unnecessarily harsh tone that doesn’t serve the romantic elements of the story.
Social media reactions have been particularly intense, with viewers sharing everything from praise for Fennell’s boldness to warnings about the film’s content. The hashtag #WutheringHeights has trended multiple times since the film’s release.
Industry insiders suggest that Fennell’s approach might influence how other directors tackle classic literary adaptations. The success of her version could encourage more filmmakers to take risks with beloved source material.
The film’s reception also highlights changing audience expectations for period dramas. Younger viewers, in particular, seem more receptive to Fennell’s approach, while older audiences appear more divided.
What’s clear is that Fennell achieved her goal of creating a Wuthering Heights adaptation that nobody could ignore or forget. Whether viewers love it or hate it, they’re certainly talking about it.
FAQs
Why did Emerald Fennell start Wuthering Heights with a hanging scene?
Fennell wanted to immediately establish the dangerous, brutal world of 19th-century Yorkshire and show that her adaptation wouldn’t be a sanitized period drama.
Is the opening scene historically accurate?
Yes, public hangings were common entertainment in 19th-century England, and Fennell used this historical reality to set the tone for her adaptation.
How does this version compare to other Wuthering Heights adaptations?
Fennell’s version is significantly darker and more psychologically complex than previous film adaptations, focusing on the Gothic elements of Brontë’s original work.
What was the audience reaction to the controversial opening?
Audiences were sharply divided, with some praising Fennell’s boldness and others finding the opening unnecessarily disturbing.
Did the controversial opening hurt the film’s box office performance?
No, the film has been commercially successful, with the controversy actually drawing curious viewers to theaters.
What other changes did Fennell make to the story?
Beyond the opening, Fennell emphasized the dark humor and psychological complexity in Brontë’s work while maintaining the core romantic elements of the story.
About the Author
