“Wuthering Heights” is a gorgeous-looking movie.

Look closer. The movie is pretty ugly.

This is not your mother’s or father’s “Wuthering Heights.”

The movie, with its depictions of intimate partner violence, spousal abuse and downright nastiness, is not for the faint of heart.

Heathcliff, whose newfound wealth returns him with vengeance in his heart to the Wuthering Heights estate on the Yorkshire Moors of England where the Liverpool orphan was raised, is played by Jacob Elordi.

Heathcliff, in the latest film version directed by Emerald Fennell, who wrote the screenplay based on the classic 1847 novel by Emily Brontë, is even more of a brute than in many of the previous motion picture adaptations.

There have been many movie and TV adaptations of “Wuthering Heights.”

A “Masterpiece Theatre” version (1998) starred Orla Brady and Tom Hardy.

The entire novel was covered in a 1992 film starring Juliette Binoche and Ralph Fiennes).

The latest version covers half of the novel.

A 1970 film starred Anna Calder-Marshall and with Timothy Dalton.

The 1939 classic starred Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier.

Heathcliff is quite monstrous, and is described as such by other characters in the latest film interpretation of the novel.

Jacob Elordi is a great choice to play the newer, hunkier, even more dastardly Heathcliff.

He’s a “hunka-hunka burnin’ love,” having played Elvis Presley in director Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla” (2023), and he can be scary, having played The Creature in director Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” (2025), for which Elordi is nominated for a supporting actor Oscar.

Elordi is in HBO’s “Euphoria” (2019 to present) and was in the movie, “Saltburn” (2023), directed by Fennell.

Margo Robbie is a great choice to play the newer, more modern, even more tragic Catherine Earnshaw, having played Barbie in ”Barbie” (2024).

Margo Robbie received a supporting actress Oscar nominee for “Bombshell” (2020) and an Oscar actress nominee for “I, Tonya” (2018).

Catherine has her eye on a late 18th century version of Barbie’s Dreamhouse, that of Thrushcross Grange, where Edgar Linton (Shazad Latif) is lord of the manner. When Edgar proposes marriage, she accepts. No starter home for her.

She gets her pink bedroom. Catherine’s last name isn’t Earnshaw for nothing.

One problem for Catherine. She acts with her head. She thinks with her heart.

Catherine is still in love with Heathcliff. Her marriage to Edgar apparently is no obstacle. Two can play this game. Heathcliff marries Edgar’s sister Isabella (Allison Oliver). Heathcliff teaches Isabella some new tricks.

Jacob Elordi and Margo Robbie look beautiful together on the screen. At times, one gets the sense of watching a Ralph Lauren commercial or a version of “Beauty and the Beast” or “Cinderella.”

Jacob Elordi and Margo Robbie look passionate together on the screen. She looks at him with the worshipful eyes fans lavish on a teen pop star. He laps her up like a puppy dog. Literally. His tongue is busier than that of a Basset Hound. They kiss so intensely, their noses bend like Silly Putty.

All of this is captured in closeups by Director of Photography Linus Sandgren (Oscar, cinematography, “La La Land,” 2017). The film has stunning vistas, landscapes of rock outcroppings, shadows and fog, lots wind and rain, and magnificent castle-like interiors.

The impressive production design is by Suzie Davies (Oscar nominee, production design, “Conclave” and “Mr. Turner,” 2015).

The beautiful costumes that Margo Robbie wears, the dashing attire of Jacob Elordi and the seeming authentic clothing of the era worn by the cast are by Costume Designer Jacqueline Durran (nine-time Oscar winner, costume design; Oscar winner, costume design, “Little Women,” 2020 and “Anna Karenina,” 2013).

The soundtrack by Anthony Willis has harsh and effective use of strings.

“Wuthering Heights” is of chief interest for fans of Margo Robbie, Jacob Elordi and the novel, “Wuthering Heights.”

“Wuthering Heights,” MPA rated R (Restricted, meaning persons under 17 require an accompanying parent or adult guardian) for sexual content, some violent content and language; Genre: Costume Drama; Run time: 2 hours, 16 minutes. Distributed by Warner Brothers.

Credit Readers Anonymous: The soundtrack includes songs written, co-written and sung by Charli XCX, including “Dying for You,” by Charlotte Aitchison, Finn Keane and Justin Raisen and heard during the closing credits.

At The Movies: “Wuthering Heights” was seen in the Dolby Theater at AMC, AMC Center Valley 16.

Theatrical Movies Domestic Weekend Box Office, Feb. 27-March 1: “Scream 7,” starring Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, Isabel May, Joel McHale and Mckenna Grace in the Horror film sequel, opened at No. 1 with $63.6 million in 3,540 theaters, chasing “GOAT” from to No. 1, dropping to No. 2 with $12 million in 3,707 theaters, $78.9 million, three weeks.

“Scream 7” passed “Scream VI,” which opened with $44.4 million in 2023, as the biggest debut in the franchise.

3. “Wuthering Heights” dropped one place, $6.7 million in $3,221 theaters, $72 million, three weeks. 4. “Twenty One Pilots: More Than We Ever Imagined,” a concert filmed in Mexico City, $4.3 million in 833 theaters, opening. 5. “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert” moved up two places, $3.5 million in 1,963 theaters, $7.8 million, two weeks. 6. “Crime 101” dropped two places, $3.4 million in 2,607 theaters, $30.1 million, three weeks. 7. “I Can Only Imagine 2” dropped four places, $3.1 million in 3,105 theaters, $13.3 million, two weeks. 8. “Send Help” dropped three places, $2.8 million in 2,500 theaters, $55.9 million, five weeks. 9. “How to Make a Killing” dropped three places, $1.5 million in 1,726 theaters, $6.2 million, two weeks. “Zootopia 2” dropped one place, $1.5 million in 1,350 theaters, $425.9 million, 14 weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of March 1 is subject to change.

Unreel, Feb. 27:

“Scream 7,” MPA rated R; 1 hour, 54 minutes: Kevin Williamson directs Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, Isabel May, Joel McHale and Mckenna Grace in the Horror film. A new Ghostface killer appears in the town where Sidney Prescott has started a new life when her daughter is threatened.

“EPIC: Elvis Presley In Concert,” MPA PG-13. 1 hour, 30 minutes: Baz Luhrmann directs the documentary film about Elvis Presley based on never-before-seen footage and never-heard recordings. After one week in IMAX, the movie went into wide release.

“Dreams,” No MPA rating, 1 hour, 35 minutes: Michel Franco directs Jessica Chastain and Isaac Hernández in the Romantic Thriller. An American socialite and a Mexican ballet dancer fall in love.

Movie opening dates from Internet Movie Database as of March 1 may be subject to change.

Three Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes