Emerald Fennell's Provocative Wuthering Heights Adaptation Shocks Audiences

According to recent reports, Emerald Fennell's highly anticipated adaptation of the classic novel Wuthering Heights is set to be a far cry from a traditional romantic drama. The film, which is currently scheduled for a Valentine's Day 2026 release, has already generated significant buzz following a recent test screening in the Dallas area.

Attendees of the test screening have described the movie as "aggressively provocative and tonally abrasive," a stark departure from the source material. While the performances of lead actors Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi have been praised, the characters they portray are not necessarily designed to be the most likable, potentially leaving some viewers disconnected.

One of the most notable aspects of Fennell's Wuthering Heights is its explicit sexual content. The film reportedly features multiple scenes of masturbation, all intended to make the audience at least slightly uncomfortable. Additionally, there is a scene depicting a "BDSM-tinged encounter" involving a woman being strapped into a horse's reins.

When the movie isn't exploring the more sexually charged elements of the story, it is said to be "aggressively suggestive," with the camera lingering on scenes of egg yolks running through fingers and dough being kneaded. This approach is in line with Fennell's previous work, which has included a memorable masturbation scene in her film Saltburn.

While the test screening reactions suggest that Fennell's Wuthering Heights will be a far cry from a traditional romantic adaptation, it remains to be seen whether the final version of the film will maintain this provocative and boundary-pushing approach. Audiences will have to wait until the movie's release in February 2026 to see for themselves just how Fennell has reinterpreted this classic tale.