Movie Review: Love Lies Bleeding (2024)

Genre: Romantic Crime Drama  

Director: Rose Glass  

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Katy O'Brian, Ed Harris, Jena Malone, Dave Franco  

Running Time: 104 minutes  

Synopsis: In rural New Mexico of 1989, gym manager Lou (Kristen Stewart) falls in love with muscular drifter-from-out-of-town Jackie (Katy O'Brian), who is planning to compete in a Las Vegas body building competition. Jackie accepts a job at the shooting range managed by Lou's estranged father Lou Sr. (Ed Harris), and starts to inject herself with large doses of steroids. Meanwhile Lou's sister Beth (Jena Malone) is being abused by her sleazoid husband JJ (Dave Franco). When the abuse goes too far, Jackie intervenes, triggering a cycle of violence.

What Works Well: Director and co-writer Rose Glass creates a sweaty and gritty genre-melding backwater drama. Against the backdrop of corruption (Lou's father) and exploitation (Lou's brother-in-law), a romance blossoms and hopes for Vegas glory spur optimism, but drug-fueled violence leads to neo-noir shadings and even moments of levity. The cast excels within the economic doldrums (Jackie is effectively homeless; Lou's main task as gym "manager" is to clear clogged toilets), and Kristen Stewart exudes intent as a protagonist emerging from passivity.

What Does Not Work As Well: The final act is buffeted by too many dead bodies and erratic tonal shifts, undermining the more subtle set-up work. The sub-story about the FBI's investigation into Lou Sr.'s shady criminal activities receives only half-hearted attention.

Key Quote:

Jackie: Anyone can feel strong hiding behind a piece of metal. I prefer to know my own strength.



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