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MOVIE REVIEW
'Love Lies Bleeding' Is A Decent Lesbian Crime Thriller
By Sal LoCicero | March 25, 2024
From writer-director Rose Glass (Saint Maud), comes a stylistic lesbian crime thriller featuring Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian, and distributed by A24. After the release of her (shockingly underwhelming) directorial debut, ‘Saint Maud’ (2020), it became more uncertain to know what else Glass would bring as a filmmaker.
The year is 1989, Lou (Kristen Stewart) is a manager at a gym. Lou has a lot of unknown deadly secrets that she hides from everyone, regarding her and her family. When she meets Jackie (Katy O’Brian), a bodybuilder, Lou falls in love with her. However their relationship starts to crumble once Lou’s father, Lou Sr. (Ed Harris), a criminal who corrupts the city, finds out that someone he knows - and works with - is missing, he manages to connect Lou and Jackie to his employees’ disappearance.
‘Love Lies Bleeding’ is most definitely an upgrade from writer-director Rose Glass. This is a crime thriller that (from the opening title sequence) depicts the gritty lifestyle of late 80s Albuquerque, New Mexico, as well as the many folks who live there. It’s a dangerous and corrupt world that Lou’s father created, and Lou herself is upset with everything around her. The first act does an incredible job teasing all of the chaos and betrayals that are to come. The cinematography captures the vibe of both the story and setting, you are hooked right from the start. The performances are all very good, but it’s truly Katy O’Brian who gives the best performance.
Once the second act arrives, that is when things begin to untangle. After a terrible incident (that centers around Lou’s family) occurs, which leads to a more deadly incident, Lou Sr. starts to connect the dots and play mind games to destroy Lou and Jackie’s relationship. This is also where the movie is at its best and worst. Both of our main characters lose their minds. Lou is panicking, while Jackie is completely high on drugs, and all of this is what makes the majority of the film’s second act a psychological/anxiety-inducing experience. We also get more screen time with another character (who is introduced in the beginning), and this particular character is definitely the weakest aspect.
Despite its intense tone (throughout), there are some areas in the script that do not blend in well with the story. In one sequence, in which Rose Glass decides to take a more surrealistic approach to continue our two protagonists’ bloody journey, and it's a choice that feels gratuitous. Out of the few sex scenes that are presented, there is a certain one that comes off unnecessary. It’s slow and long, and it doesn’t add any value to the plot.
The biggest problem that hovers over the majority of the movie, is that it’s focused more on style than substance. Some of what was teased in the first act are never really explored any further leaving you feeling a little empty handed.
‘Love Lies Bleeding’ shows that writer-director Rose Glass most certainly has a cinematic vision for storytelling, while it still needs a little more improvement, this is the crime thriller that most audiences should enjoy.
Grade: B
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