After garnering visceral reactions from the Sundance crowd in January, Kristen Stewart’s Love Lies Bleeding has opened to a whopping 91%, becoming her second highest-rated film in the Tomatometer. Announced back in 2022, the Twilight Star joined forces with Saint Maud director Rose Glass for her first collaboration with A24.
And while fans are thrilled by it, following Glass’ work on the acclaimed horror Saint Maud, her only feature film prior to this one, it’s reasonable to see why this might not be for everyone.
Reviews for Love Lies Bleeding Calls It a Wild Ride Not Made for Everyone
Being Rose Glass’s second collaboration with A24, Love Lies Bleeding has been deemed by viewers a pretty wild ride, which doesn’t hold back from being gruesome at times. Starring Kristen Stewart as a bored gym worker Lou, who falls for her bi-sexual bodybuilding drifter Jackie, played by Katy O’Brian, reviews are raving about the film for its unpredictability and dark humor. However, the hyper-stylized bodybuilding thriller might not be everyone’s cup of tea, as viewers explained that it doesn’t shy away from getting intentionally uncomfortable at times.
And following the gore involved, which isn’t surprising, as the director previously excelled with body horror in Saint Maud, it’s certainly not a film made for everyone.
#LoveLiesBleeding…a trip! Violent, erotic, bonkers crime romance embraces the pulp and turns out wildly unpredictable. Darkly funny and intentionally uncomfortable at times, Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian dominate. Not for everyone, but those that dig it, will DIG it. pic.twitter.com/5FUZBXRP3m
— Peter Gray (@ratedPDG) March 6, 2024
KRISTEN STEWART!!! love lies bleeding was amazing omg #LoveLiesBleeding pic.twitter.com/HSJr7TJBlo
— Shruti🦋 (@Shruthiey) March 6, 2024
Rose Glass' 'Love Lies Bleeding' is a welcome shot in the arm for indie cinema; funny, ferocious & wildly imaginative. A certain moment in the last 15 mins had me applauding its audacity. Whole cast is great, but Katy O'Brian just flat out rocks in a gargantuan star turn. Bravo. pic.twitter.com/3RtHGzAnpT
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) March 6, 2024
Love Lies Bleeding is great. Electric and beautiful and funny and raw and GAY.
— Shannon (@shannonpurser) March 6, 2024
But this doesn’t stop it from garnering rave reviews, as it currently sits at 91% at the Tomatometer with 67 reviews as of writing, almost close to the score of Glass’ previous feature.
Kristen Stewart Was Initially Conflicted About Her Character
Reflecting on her role in the thriller, which she deemed a fever dream, a mix between fantasy and nightmare, Kristen Stewart explained that she wasn’t initially sure if she loved or hated Lou. Eventually, the Twilight Star came to love her character, as she commended Rose Glass and Weronika Tofilska’s screenplay, stating it was both funny and sad. Describing the film and her character, Stewart said (via Moviefone):
“The movie’s like a mix between a fantasy and a nightmare. It’s a real fever dream. It starts in this kind of isolated insular space, someone paralyzed by whatever kind of baggage she may be carrying around. Very addicted to the baggage, addicted to smoking, addicted to isolation, and just sort of stuck. I just thought that it was a good script. It was funny, it was scary and sad, and I wasn’t sure if I loved or hated Lou, but ultimately, she’s a nice guy and I think she’s trying hard and so I do like her. I just thought Rose’s first movie was great. So, if I could be in her second one, that would be cool.”
Following reactions from both fans and critics, it’s safe to assume it’ll be in line with the tone of Michael Bay’s Pain & Gain, which explains why it might not be for everyone.
Love Lies Bleeding will be released in the United States in limited theaters on March 8.
