Love Lies Bleeding Movie Review (2024): Revenge is BRUTAL

When I first heard about Love Lies Bleeding, I’ll admit I was intrigued. A thriller focused on the world of female bodybuilding?

With Kristen Stewart in the lead? And themes of obsession and vengeance? It sounded like it could either be spectacular or a spectacular mess. Having seen it, I can say it’s a bit of both.

This film absolutely isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s a visceral, often stomach-churning experience, but also strangely compelling.

Stewart delivers one of her most physically and emotionally demanding performances to date.

And director Rose Glass paints a haunting portrait of female ambition, body image, and the destructive power of love.

Key Takeaways

• Love Lies Bleeding is a bold, often brutal thriller with a magnetic Kristen Stewart performance.
• The focus on female bodybuilding is unique, with complex portrayals of body image.
• The film’s stylish visuals are both mesmerizing and disturbing.
• Critical response is mixed – some praise its intensity, others find the ending off-putting.

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Love Lies Bleeding Movie Review

Aspect	Rating (out of 5)
Acting Performances	4
Visual Style	3.5
Thematic Depth	3
Originality	3.5
Ending Satisfaction	2
Overall Rating	2.5

Love Lies Bleeding Movie Cast

Role	Name
Cast
Lou	Kristen Stewart
Jackie	Katy O’Brian
Lou Sr.	Ed Harris
Beth	Jena Malone
Daisy	Anna Baryshnikov
J.J.	Dave Franco
Crew
Director	Rose Glass
Writers	Rose Glass, Weronika Tofilska
Producers	Andrea Cornwell, Oliver Kassman
Cinematographer	Ben Fordesman
Editor	Mark Towns
Composer	Clint Mansell
Production Companies	Film4, Escape Plan, Lobo Films
Distributors	A24 (United States), Lionsgate UK (United Kingdom)

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Plot Synopsis

Love Lies Bleeding follows Lou, a stoic personal trainer at a run-down gym. She lives a contained, almost reclusive life, seemingly scarred by a troubled past.

Her one outlet is watching female bodybuilding competitions – she fixates on the power and musculature of these women.

Enter Jackie, a vibrant, ambitious newcomer who dreams of going pro in bodybuilding.

Lou is immediately drawn to Jackie’s energy and drive, and they soon fall into a whirlwind romance.

Lou becomes Jackie’s trainer, pushing her to the limit both physically and emotionally.

But things quickly turn dark. Lou is drawn into Jackie’s orbit, which includes her shady, manipulative family involved in a dangerous criminal network.

As Jackie’s competitive spirit intensifies (fueled by steroid use), her ambition turns into recklessness, dragging both women down a path of violence and betrayal.

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Kristen Stewart’s Performance

It’s impossible to talk about Love Lies Bleeding without discussing Kristen Stewart. Her performance as Lou is nothing short of transformative.

We’re used to seeing Stewart in more understated roles, but here she fully embodies the physicality and emotional intensity of her character.

Lou is a woman of few words, but Stewart conveys so much through her body language and subtle facial expressions.

There’s a simmering rage beneath the surface, a quiet desperation that slowly erupts as the film progresses. This is a far cry from her “Twilight” days!

Also See: Azrael Movie Review

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Cinematography and Visual Style

The film’s visual style is as striking as its performances. Rose Glass creates a world that’s both gritty and oddly glamorous, reflecting the contradictions of the bodybuilding scene.

From the grimy, sweat-soaked gym to the neon-lit stages of competitions, there’s a raw energy to the cinematography.

The scenes focused on bodybuilding are particularly fascinating. There’s an almost fetishistic quality to the way the camera lingers on the women’s bodies.

It’s both empowering and unsettling, showcasing the power and vulnerability on display.

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Themes and Motifs

Love Lies Bleeding dives deep into some complex and timely themes. Let’s explore a few:

• Body Image and Transformation: The film offers a nuanced, sometimes disturbing, take on female body image. The female bodybuilders are both celebrated and objectified. It’s unclear whether the film ultimately critiques or simply revels in the spectacle of their hyper-muscular bodies.
• Obsession and Control: The relationship between Lou and Jackie is at the heart of the film. It’s a complex mix of love, desire, manipulation, and codependency. They both want to control the other, leading to a toxic cycle of escalating behaviors.
• The Price of Ambition: Jackie’s relentless pursuit of her bodybuilding dreams comes at a terrible cost. We see the toll it takes on her body, her relationships, and her mental state. The film raises the question of how far is too far when chasing your goals.

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Comparison to Similar Films

Here’s where Love Lies Bleeding finds common ground (and differs) from similar films:

• Body-Focused Dramas: Think movies like “Black Swan,” where the pursuit of artistic perfection leads to mental and physical breakdown. Both films explore the dangers of obsession and the blurred lines between ambition and self-destruction.
• Revenge Thrillers: The bloody climax of Love Lies Bleeding certainly places it in this genre. However, unlike many revenge films, the morality here is deeply ambiguous. Is Lou’s quest for vengeance justified, or does she become just as monstrous as her enemies?

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Representation and Body Positivity

One fascinating aspect of the debate around Love Lies Bleeding centers on representation.

Is this portrayal of hyper-muscular female bodies a positive exploration of female strength or a reinforcement of unrealistic, potentially harmful beauty standards?

• Empowering or Problematic? Some viewers might find the images of muscular female bodies empowering, showcasing women breaking stereotypes of feminine frailty. Others might argue that the relentless focus on bulked-up physiques perpetuates unattainable ideals, especially in the context of likely steroid use within the world of competitive bodybuilding.

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Final Verdict

Ultimately, whether you’ll enjoy Love Lies Bleeding comes down to your personal taste. Here’s a quick guide to help you decide:

You’ll probably LOVE it if:

• You enjoy visually striking, psychologically intense thrillers
• You’re a fan of Darren Aronofsky, Nicolas Winding Refn, or similar filmmakers
• You’re fascinated by themes of body image, ambition, and the dark side of desire
• You don’t mind extreme violence and a morally ambiguous ending

You might want to SKIP it if:

• You’re sensitive to graphic violence or disturbing subject matter
• You prefer tidy, straightforward narratives with clear-cut endings
• You’re looking for a feel-good, empowering cinematic experience

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