It is always a good thing when a movie can take risks that pay off. Smaller movies can sometimes take more risks, push the envelope further, because there isn’t as much at stake. Love Lies Bleeding took enough of those risks to stand out, but not too many as to alienate and confuse audiences.
**this review contains spoilers for Love Lies Bleeding
Credit: A24 (2024)
What it means to be a lesbian
Let’s start by being so honest: I have no idea how to be a woman much less a lesbian. But as someone who watches a lot of movies, I can tell when something is no longer made by a straight man. Love Lies Bleeding is a story that could only be written and directed by a woman. Sometimes I get frustrated by stories like these because I have essentially no emotional connection to it. There are often no characters or plot points that relate to me. In cases like this, where I am not the target audience, I feel like I look at the movie from an outsider’s perspective. I didn’t know it was directed by a woman at first but there was one shot early on that made me think “there’s almost no way a man would do this.” In the opening sequence at the gym, there is a close up of a man’s nipple while he is lifting weights, and that was my clue. It was edgy, somewhat sexual (but safe), and showed that this was not going to be a normal ride. I notice women directors like to take shots like that of men, in the same way men would do that of a woman.
Credit: A24 (2024)
What about those risks?
Risks are only worth it if you can make a good movie regardless of them. There is no point in taking a huge risk for the sake of taking a risk. It needs to be meaningful, and it needs to be done well. A neo-noir thriller targeted to a niche audience needs to be really good if it’s going to have any success. Love Lies Bleeding seems to have pulled that off. The script could have been bogged down so easily by too many atmospheric shots of gym equipment or acting the characters into a box of only one emotion. Instead, things moved with purpose. Every shot said something without too much repetition. The acting gave a depth to the characters that is easily lost in indie Films like these. With great attributes like these, the risks feel warranted. I think the portrayal of Jackie’s story (steroid stuff, bodybuilding, and relationship with Lou) was the big risk. I never quite realized how big a risk they were taking until the end. I think what they were trying to show was that Jakie’s true strength came from Lou, not steroids. Whenever Jackie took steroids, they showed her physically strong, but not mentally well. Shots of veiny muscles, distorted vision, and confusing actions followed any steroid taking. These increased in intensity as the movie went on. At the bodybuilding competition we see that culminate. She appeared physically to be at her prime, but internally she was distraught and that ultimately led to her downfall. The execution of this is the risk. Her visions of Lou (specifically throwing her up) create a disturbing image in the head of the viewer and risk deterring or confusing more casual viewers. Near the end of the movie, we see another example of this. We see Jackie’s strength come from defending Lou from her father. The risk here came by literally making Jackie a giant. She grew in size, to the point that a man could be crushed in her hand, and came to the aid of Lou. I myself was confused at first until I realized they were just being overly symbolic. When your movie has been very real and grounded, and then you throw something crazy on the screen, I think audiences have no choice but to be somewhat confused. These risks, although confusing at first, ultimately led to this movie being very memorable. The symbolic moments were tied into the story and felt justified even if they didn’t fit the vibe of the rest of the film.
Credit: A24 (2024)
What is the recommendation?
The recommendation is yes, but with a caution. I think people will look at this movie, assume some stuff (some of it correct), and then be knocked off guard by the crazy. I really liked this movie, and my appreciation of what it is has only grown, but this is not a movie for everyone. If you know yourself and know you won’t have a good time watching it, then fair enough don’t put yourself through it. But if you know yourself, know you won’t like it, but want to experience something new and outside your comfort zone, then give it a shot.
Rating: 74/100
Classification: Film
so cutesy, so demure
as a lesbian i endorse this review