Fine Arts 

Storm winds sweep across the empty moors, and a lone figure stands against the gray horizon, torn between love, obsession, and revenge. This is “Wuthering Heights,” Emily Brontë’s classic story that has fascinated readers for nearly two centuries, and now, with Emerald Fennell’s 2026 adaptation, the tale takes on a bold, modern intensity. Heathcliff and Catherine’s complex relationship remains at the center, portrayed in a way that is raw, emotional, and strikingly different from any previous film.

Brontë’s novel is far from a simple romance. It is dark, morally complex, and emotionally raw. Heathcliff is introduced as an orphan taken in by the Earnshaw family, a brooding and mysterious figure shaped by neglect and the cruelty of society. Catherine Earnshaw, spirited and passionate, grows up alongside him, their childhood closeness eventually turning into a powerful but unstable love. In the 2026 film, this bond is brought to life through carefully framed scenes – lingering looks, small gestures, and the way the camera captures their shared spaces – which highlight both their intimacy and the tension underlying it. Moments of playfulness in their youth contrast sharply with the emotional intensity of their later interactions, showing how their relationship evolves from innocence to obsession. The film emphasizes these subtleties, making their connection feel layered and psychologically real rather than just dramatic. 

Sophomore Sophie Yahin praised the film for leaning into these emotional parallels, rating it a 9 out of 10 and noting that she “really enjoyed how cinematic it was” and loved “the parallels and overall the storyline.” Rather than feeling disappointed by another adaptation, she felt the film exceeded her expectations, admitting she “didn’t expect it to be that good.”

 Many modern readers interpret the story less as a romance and more as a study of emotional trauma and inherited dysfunction. As one Reddit commenter put it, “Wuthering Heights isn’t meant to be liked – it's meant to be experienced.” 

This idea strongly resonated with Yahin, who described the film's overall mood in three words: “gloomy, historic, tragic.” While she said she enjoyed the yearning and happiness in earlier moments, she explained that “in the end it made me feel super sad,” adding simply that her immediate reaction when the film ended was that she cried.

Film adaptations over the years have reflected the eras in which they were made. The 1939 version of this classic text reshaped Heathcliff into a tragic romantic hero and softened the story’s cruelty, creating a sweeping Hollywood melodrama with a reconciliatory ending. The 1992 adaptation took a darker approach, emphasizing emotional cruelty, violence, and social decay while streamlining the novel’s complex narrative. Both films focused primarily on the first-generation romance, often minimizing the second generation, and tended to romanticize Heathcliff despite his darker traits in the book.

Emerald Fennell’s 2026 adaptation takes a different path. Known for “Promising Young Woman” and “Saltburn,” Fennell brings a focus on obsession, moral tension, and psychological complexity. She has said that it is impossible to fully adapt a book as intricate as “Wuthering Heights,” and what she presents is her own version. The film emphasizes mood and emotional tension over strict plot fidelity. Heathcliff, played by Jacod Elordi, and Catherine, played by Margot Robbie, remain obsessive and intense, but the film softens the more overtly abusive aspects of their relationship. Moments that might have been cruel in the book are framed as emotional struggle or longing, allowing viewers to empathize with both characters while maintaining the story’s tension.

Unlike how Emily Brontë intended the character of Heathcliff to be in the novel, Yahin interpreted him as not a villain, but as “a victim,” explaining that “he had a rough childhood and then he was mistreated and that’s just how he reacted to it all.” However, Yahin was unable to find a character that she resonated with. She felt that “they are all super unique,” reinforcing the film’s uncertainty and confusion when it comes to the characters' personalities. To her, the story ultimately presents love as “an obsessive, all-encompassing thing that transcends norms and even death.” 

The film’s visual and atmospheric elements stand out. The moorlands serve almost as a silent character, their emptiness reflecting isolation and inner conflict. Fog, wind, and muted colors create a heavy, tense atmosphere, while interior spaces feel claustrophobic, enhancing the sense of emotional suffocation. Costume choices are worn and layered, emphasizing realism and raw emotion. Close-ups of hands, eyes, and doorways highlight hesitations and distance, while natural sounds replace constant music, letting tension build organically. Subtle, atmospheric music supports the mood without dictating it.  

One of the boldest directorial choices for Yahin was Catherine’s room in her husband’s house, which she noted strikingly “looks like her skin”, a visual metaphor that reinforces Catherine’s loss of autonomy and emotional confinement. The film visually lingers on this space, using close-ups and muted tones to blur the boundary between Catherine and the room itself, emphasizing how trapped she feels within her marriage. This choice subtly reflects the film’s larger theme of identity being consumed by love, power, and obligation.

What sets this version apart is its focus on feeling over narrative. Older adaptations leaned on plot or melodrama, but the 2026 film prioritizes emotional resonance. Heathcliff and Catherine's connection is intense yet less abusive, making them more relatable without losing the story's emotional impact. Critics have given the film a 58% on Rotten Tomatoes while audiences at this moment respond more favorably with 77%, reflecting the divide between expectation and experience.

Yahin felt that the critical response undervalued the film, arguing that “the review should be a little higher” because it was “super cinematic” and the “acting was great,” aligning her opinion with audience reactions rather than with critics.

Across adaptations, the evolution of Heathcliff and Catherine is clear. In 1939 Heathcliff was tragic and romanticized, and Catherine's volatility was toned down. The 1992 version highlighted the darkness of their personalities, with violence and cruelty shaping the narrative. In the 2026 film, their relationship is psychologically engaging, obsessive, and intense, without overemphasizing abuse. This approach makes the characters feel human and their struggles relatable, even if the story is less traditionally romantic. 

Ultimately, whether the book is better than the films depends on what the viewer or reader values. The 2026 adaptation does not capture every detail or cruelty of Brontë's original, but it demonstrates that a movie can offer a different, equally powerful experience. Through mood, setting, and performance, it brings Heathcliff and Catherine's world vividly to life. For new audiences, the film provides an entry point that emphasizes emotional depth and tension, a reminder that some stories are defined as much by how they feel as by what happens on the page. If you have not already seen it, “Wuthering Heights” 2026 is worth experiencing on the big screen for its haunting visuals, intense performances, and fresh take on a well-known, timeless story.

Devil's Backbone Tavern

Walking in, it was as if I was immediately stepping back in time. The interior was the same as it has been for the past century, the floor creaked with the thousands of dances it had endured, and the music was an invitation to any and all to a good afternoon.

The first thing that caught my eye were the thousands of dollar bills stapled to the ceiling. Each one was signed with a witty message, so many that you couldn't see the original wood at all. I then noticed the music playing in the next room, old country classics and I was drawn in. There I found the heart of my trip, the Devil’s Backbone Tavern. A mix between dive bar and dancehall, the establishment keeps tradition alive and offers a “olden days” experience to all. 

I first heard about Devil’s Backbone Tavern from Mr. Jarusinsky, the Upper School Rock Band teacher. He plays with the band pictured every third Sunday of the month and invited me to attend. I did not know what to expect when I showed up, but I was very pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere and the live music. The lead singer Robyn Ludwick is the proud owner of the establishment. A tradition of the Devil’s Backbone Tavern is that from the 1930s to the present, the establishment has been female owned and run. “We’ve worked hard to make sure everyone feels welcome. It wasn’t always this way,” Ludwick said. 

When Ludwick bought the property in 2018, she made it her mission to restore it to its previous glory and she certainly did her job. When she inherited the property, the building was a mess with trash and stuff everywhere. She put her time and energy into making it what it is now. She explained that she focused on “restoring, not renovating.” Photographs and signs and furniture still are the same as they were throughout the near century. 

Devil’s Backbone Ridge is located in Fischer Texas, which is right outside of Wimberly. The drive was about an hour and incredibly scenic. To me, it was the perfect Sunday afternoon activity and a good reset to start my week off right. The band was absolutely incredible, a mix between Ludwick’s original songs and a Toni Price tribute. 

One of the most special moments was when a couple started to two step through the aisle just feeling the music. All in all, I very much enjoyed my time at the Devil’s Backbone Tavern and plan on returning for another Sunday afternoon.

Gruene Hall

If looking for the definition of Texas tradition, Gruene Hall is the absolute epitome of it in a physical standing structure. As the state's most iconic dancehall, the reputation is well deserved. Gruene Hall (pronounced Green Hall)  in Gruene, Texas has been operating since 1878 when German farmer Ernst Gruene built the building to serve as a place for rest and social gatherings for his fellow farmers. In the late 19th and early 20th CE Gruene gained a lot of traction and the cotton business was booming. 

Gruene was hit hard by the Great Depression as most of America was at the time. The town was also hit hard by a local boll weevil infestation which took a major toll on the cotton industry, which was keeping Gruene afloat. Through the hardships, Gruene Hall was the only business to remain doors open. The town’s local stores and train depots had all closed to bankruptcy, but locals remained loyal to the hall to let loose and dance through the hard times.

In 1974, Chip Kaufman, a Texas music and cultural tradition enthusiast, took it upon himself to revive and give much needed renovations to Gruene Hall. He recognized the potential of the local treasure and took it upon himself to book some of the newer generation big names to start performing and make Gruene Hall a name for itself. Kaufman himself takes a lot of the credit for bringing attention to the iconic Texas dancehall tradition.

Today, Gruene Hall has something to offer every night, whether it be two stepping lessons, your favorite singer performing, or just good people to surround yourself with. “Certain things about old Austin and Texas get forgotten but Gruene and other live music venues are always there with the quintessential old timey Texas vibes,” remarked senior Jude Bush.

Luckenbach Dancehall

Tucked into the hill country outside of Fredericksburg is the small but certainly mighty town Luckenbach. You might've heard the name from famous songs including "Luckenbach Texas” by Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. The name Luckenbach has a lot of weight to it, and certainly earns it. 

The legendary dancehall keeps things traditional, that's why they're iconic. ‘Hug ins’, a Luckenbach World Fair, and the Ladies State Chili Bust are just a few examples of the customs that have been alive for over 50 years. 

Luckenbach’s claim to fame jumpstarted in 1973 when country star Jerry Jeff Walker came to Luckenbach looking for a place to record a new album. He and his band fell in love with the town and proceeded to take over the dancehall, stacking hay bails as sound baffles, and sat around just writing songs together for weeks. The album produced, ‘Viva Terlingua’ went gold and then rocketed Luckenbach into a tourist destination for those who loved the album and wanted to see where it originated.

In the 90s, Luckenbach went under major renovations and today stands sturdy with iconic creaky floors, a modest stage, and plenty of room to dance your heart out. Luckenbach’s charm is how it remains accessible to anyone and everyone. Artists will often put on informal shows and songwriting circles. Today, Luckenbach continues to host regular shows and festivals, preserving that easy going mentality it has owned for so long. Luckenbach celebrates simplicity and what really matters in life and what better way to represent true Texas traditions and culture than that.