Content warning: the following article contains discussions of addiction and violence.
Summary
Love Me, Kristen Stewart’s follow-up to a provocative love story with a 94 percentRotten Tomatoesrating may have gone too far.Kristen Stewart’s movie repertoirealready holds two romantic films for 2024, and they both push the envelope of what a cinematic love story looks like. In one film, Stewart’s character is the daughter of a criminal gun range and gym owner who helps her girlfriend take down her father and her sister’s abusive husband amid themes of love and addiction. The other is a post-apocalyptic tale that centers on an unconventional romance after the fall of civilization.
While both films include mind-bending elements,Love Memay have gone too far.Stewart’s 2024 sci-fi romance elicited a 47 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes from early reviews, and the film has already garnered a divisive audience reception. However, the odd movie headlined the Sundance Film Festival in 2024, and the film boasted the Sundance Institute and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s joint Science-In-Film award ahead of its presentation. Still,Love Mearguably went too far when pushing the boundaries of traditional romance while falling flat on a romantic story’s most essential elements.
The Premise Of Kristen Stewart’s Love Me Is Baffling
Kristen Stewart Stars Opposite Steven Yeun
The premise of Kristen Stewart’s follow-up toLove Lies Bleedingis even more baffling than the body horror thriller.Love Meexplores a romance in the aftermath of civilization’s fall, with the sci-fi romance subverting traditional romance to suit the setting. Viewers witness the post-apocalyptic romance tale experienced through the lens of two robots who meet within their systems.Kristen Stewart plays Me, a lonely water buoy designed in 2600, with Steven Yeun as IAm. Yeun’s character is a satellite tasked with managing data about human life, and he falls into Me’s attempt to make the satellite her boyfriend.
Love Mewas written and directed by filmmaker couple Sam and Anthony Zuchero.
It’s an alienating concept, andLove Me’s story was divisive. While some reviews found it a brilliant tale, others considered it a strung-together vision with an uncommitted execution.Love Memovie reviewssuggest that the film fell short of delivering the emotion required to sell the narrative, and the plot itself was void of the feelings it calls into question. What’s certain is thatLove Mefell flat at the Sundance Film Festival despite Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun’s performances, not because of them.
Love Lies Bleeding Was A Perfect Example Of A Subversive Romance Movie
Kristen Stewart Stars Opposite Twisters' Katy O’Brian
Kristen Stewart’sLove Lies Bleedingwas a perfect subversive romance film because it challenged the traditional love story and won. The narrative drives romance amid a thrilling yet redeeming body horror plot sprinkled with elements of magical realism.Love Lies Bleeding’s shocking momentscenter on two heroines amid themes of addiction, violence, masculinity, and death. The film skillfully holds all its themes simultaneously, giving every character a chance to be the bad guy. However,the story perpetually leaves room for hope that Lou and Jack will have their happily ever after, too – some distorted and hellbent version of it.
WhileLove Lies Bleedingreviews understand the film as a triumph,Love Mehasn’t received the same love.
Love Lies Bleedinghas shocking moments that define the film. The characters fixate on appearances, drugs, sex, and revenge, with their addictions playing out in unpredictable ways that bend reality.Love Lies Bleedingalso maintains a central addiction throughout the film: love.Kristen Stewart’s Lou and Katy O’Brian’s Jackie never kick their addictionto one another.Love Lies Bleeding’s leading women ultimately turn into giants and run off together – not into the sunset but through a blanket of night. As they drive away in Lou’s truck, the film maintains its gritty theme of moral ambiguity inLove Lies Bleeding’s ending.
Love Me Is A Risky Follow-Up After Kristen Stewart’s Success With Love Lies Bleeding
Love Me Pushed Subversive Romance Too Far
Love Meis a risky follow-up toLove Lies Bleedingbecause the film attempted to subvert the romance genre again. That said, where the love between Jackie and Lou feels evident and their chemistry palpable,Love Mefailed to deliver on the essential elements of a love storywhen attempting to turn the genre on its head. WhileLove Lies Bleedingreviewsunderstand the film as a triumph,Love Mehasn’t received the same love. That said,Love Mecertainly wasn’t a failure for Kristen Stewart. Some of her most unique performances have aged to be some of her best after all.
Love MeandLove Lies Bleedingboth made their premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2024.Love Mewas part of the U.S. Dramatic Competition. In contrast,Love Lies Bleedingdebuted in the Midnight category, reserved for"films that will keep you wide awake and on the edge of your seat"(viaSundance Film Festival.) The films kicked off Stewart’s year on an emotional high note, regardless ofLove Me’s reception.Love Mehas yet to be released to a larger audience, so opportunities still exist for the narrative to become beloved despite, or perhaps because of, its premise.
Love Lies Bleeding
Cast
Love Lies Bleeding is an action crime film from A24. Directed by Rose Glass, Love Lies Bleeding centers on a gym employee, played by Kristen Stewart, and a bisexual bodybuilder (Katy O’Brian) as they discover how difficult the world of competitive bodybuilding is. The film also stars Jena Malone, Anna Baryshnikov, Dave Franco, and Ed Harris.
