Love Lies Bleeding (2024)
Five years after her previous horror film Saint Maud (2019), Rose Glass returns to writing and directing with her new action-adventure and crime thriller Love Lies Bleeding. Kristen Stewart stars in this campy, queer romance that proves to be intriguing for audiences who seem to be gravitating towards the film’s didactic approach to sex, crime, action, and violence. The film, indeed, does not disappoint – for the most part. Love Lies Bleeding has screened at many festivals on the festival circuit opening in 2024 and has closed this year’s Manchester International Film Festival.
This new sapphic adventure film stars Kristen Stewart as Lou and Katy O’Brian as Jackie and takes place in a small town in New Mexico. Love Lies Bleeding follows gym manager Lou as she falls for Jackie, an aspiring bodybuilder. En route to a competition in Las Vegas, Jackie passes through, catching Lou’s attention. Jackie shares with Lou her dreams of competing in a bodybuilding competition, which unfortunately leads her down a spiral of addiction and dependency on steroids. Lou’s family is not that simple either, with her father (Ed Harris) and brother-in-law (Dave Franco) involved in heavy crime. As their love develops, violence is ignited, and they are pulled deep into the web of Lou’s criminal family.
The chemistry between Stewart and O’Brian is one audiences would hope for in a fantasized relationship. The two queer actors know what they’re doing and what the queer audience hopes for. While providing for the queer community, they remember to stay true to their characters as well. Stewart portrays Lou as a strong individual who becomes even stronger through her love for Jackie. While O’Brian’s Jackie is completely invested in her championship, as well as her love for Lou, she eventually loses herself. Resorting to unspeakable acts in her descent.
Not only does Glass’ film convey a world of sweat, dirt, violence, and terrible decisions with her film, but the needle drop soundtrack brings to life an 80s vibe within the film. Glass is a genius in her mise-en-scene, introducing Lou to the audience while cleaning an ungodly puke filled toilet, with that being the least of the messes she cleans by the end of the film. When it comes to our steroid-using bodybuilder, each obstacle she faces is further enhanced with close-ups of her muscles growing from the steroids. As a Marvel viewer as well, it felt like Glass included some She-Hulk references. Ambitious punches are daring and don’t completely land, mainly the final act, but this is only one small negative when looking at the entire film. Glass imbues influences from several films, but her chosen twists and turns make the film unpredictable in certain ways.
Glass’ second film about obsession does not disappoint in that trope. One hopes this film will take on a new cult status with contemporary representation for sapphics and an evolution for queer cinema. Be sure to catch Love Lies Bleeding in US and Canadian cinemas now and on the 3rd of May 2024 when it is released in the UK.
Photo credits to IMDb.
