Love Lies Bleeding (2024)

[SeanC]

A 1989-set neo noir about a discontented gym employee (Kristen Stewart), an aspirant bodybuilder (Katy O'Brian), and a heap of trouble that they become entangled in.

This is, first and foremost, a visceral film, both in its sensuality and its bouts of explosive violence (one particular postmortem depiction drew audible gasps from the audience at the screening I attended). All of this is accompanied by a solid streak of black comedy, and (even moreso than your average crime movie) a willingness on the part of the script not to insist on its characters always being likable and morally upright. Stewart and O'Brian play off each other very well, aided by solid supporting performances from the likes of Ed Harris and Anna Baryshnikov.

Marvel Studios could have saved a lot of VFX money on its She-Hulk series if they had just cast O'Brian in the title role, painted her green, and digitally enlarged her somewhat. She's a striking screen presence who we will hopefully see more of in the future.