Lou is instantly smitten. After she rescues Jackie from a homophobic incident outside the gym, she takes her back to her own home. Since Jackie plans on staying until it’s almost time for the competition, she takes a job at a local gun range, not knowing that it’s owned by Lou’s father, Lou Langston Snr, who also runs a violent criminal enterprise.
Also employed at the range is JJ, the husband of Lou’s sister, Beth, who is violently abusive to his wife. After another violent episode, things get out of hand, with huge ramifications for Lou and Jackie.
Directed by Rose Glass from a screenplay that she co-wrote with Weronika Tofilska, Love Lies Bleeding taut, sexy thriller, with themes of domestic abuse, homophobia, misogyny and revenge.
It also riffs brilliantly on tropes of lesbian lives. Here, it’s Lou – while physically much smaller than the big and muscled Jackie – that’s the butch and Jackie the femme.
If all that were not enough to recommend it, Kristen Stewart turns in a superb performance of real subtlety as Lou.
Katy O’Brian – who’s also a martial artist – is very good as Jackie, her first major screen role.
The rest of the central cast is also very good: Ed Harris doing a fine job as the creepy Lou Snr; Anna Baryshnikov as a ditzy – but dangerous – lesbian who wants Lou for herself; Jena Malone as Beth and Dave Franco as JJ.
Ben Fordesman’s cinematography conveys a sense of brooding – and also one of the vastness that surrounds the characters, suggesting a lostness in the universe. Music by Clint Mansell also adds to the tension.
Having done some bodybuilding in my time – and having once been to watch a competition – the way the gym and contest scenes are handled is excellent.
The scenes at the gun range also provide a commentary on the relationship between Americans and their guns.
All in all, a really excellent film.
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