Thanks to its Valentine’s Day release, Emerald Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights” is a certified box office hit. Earning more than $150 million since its release, plenty of lovebirds and fans of Fennell’s audacious filmmaking have already flocked to theatres to see what was so scintillating about this version of Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel.
However, calling Fennell’s adaptation divisive would be putting it mildly. While audience members loved Jacob Elordi, and the cinematography is to die for, it’s a shockingly tame retelling of the novel, one that removes a lot of its nuance in favor of focusing on the toxic romance between Heathcliff and Catherine. Even then, those romantic elements, while entertaining, aren’t exactly as sultry as her last film, Saltburn (2023). If you were left disappointed by “Wuthering Heights” and found yourself wanting more of its dark Romantic vibes that go to some truly horrific places, then consider tracking down the 1988 version. You may have to jump through some hoops to see it on Hulu, but if you can, it’s certainly worth the effort.
What Makes The Japanese Version of Wuthering Heights So Good?
Much like the Fennell version, the 1988 version of Wuthering Heights was a reinterpretation of sorts of the original novel, albeit created with a Japanese audience in mind. Instead of the film taking place in the north of England, the Japanese version sets the film during Japan’s Muromachi Period. While that may not mean much to Westerners, this version of the film is effectively Wuthering Heights, but with samurai.
That alone may pique some people’s interests, but it goes well beyond that. Thanks to the brutality of the time period, there’s a lot more violence and bloodshed in this version. Many of the characters are treated far worse than in other adaptations, with many of the men being brutally murdered and women experiencing violent sexual assault. Even compared to the original novel, the 1988 film is a far more bitter take on the story, but that alone makes it so captivating. The familial drama reaches the same heights as classic films like Ran (1985), where the characters are frequently scheming against one another for their own betterment. Add in some religious allegories—with Wuthering Heights in this version being depicted as a Shinto temple—and the violence on display begins to feel like the serpent god they pray to is actively punishing them for their transgressions.
How Does It Compare To Emerald Fennell’s Version?
Compared to Emerald Fennell’s version, the Japanese adaptation of Wuthering Heights not only feels more complete, but it also goes well beyond what Fennell was able to accomplish in her depiction of the story.
Fennell’s take on the novel is, by her own admission, one meant to be viewed through a teenage lens. It’s far more simplistic and doesn’t really focus on the themes of the novel, and instead laser focuses on being a period romance in the same vein as Pride & Prejudice (2005), but with a splash of BDSM. It drops the novel’s focus on intergenerational vengeance, race and class allegories, and simplifies Heathcliff’s character to simply being a jilted lover and nothing more. Again, it has its fans, and the focus on toxic relationships is very fitting for 2026, but the pushback to it is very understandable.
In the Japanese version, while the Heathcliff analog, Onimaru, played by the late Yusaku Matsuda, does certainly love the Catherine analog, Kinu, that’s only a fraction of his motivation. He still does feel betrayed by her for spurring his feelings, but he very quickly decides that instead of winning her back, he’ll just ruin everyone’s lives instead. He orchestrates numerous plans to make sure all members of her family suffer, allowing him to gain control of all aspects of Wuthering Heights, including her children. His madness and obsession are incredibly palpable in this version, and the suffering they cause borders on turning the film into a horror movie. It’s not for the faint of heart, and if you were disturbed in Fennell’s version by what Heathcliff did to Isabella, the Japanese version makes the 2026 film hold its beer.
Should You Watch Wuthering Heights?
Both “Wuthering Heights” and the Japanese Wuthering Heights have very different focuses and intents, but between the two, the Japanese version is not only the superior version, but probably the best adaptation of the story ever put to screen.
While many adaptations of Wuthering Heights tend to play it safe and keep the film in its English setting, the mere decision to set the film in Japan helps it stand apart from its peers. The cinematography, music, and direction all scream classic Japanese cinema, and its focus on gripping character drama is enough to keep anyone engaged. It’s also probably one of the most faithful adaptations of the novel, going well beyond the events of Emerald Fennell’s film and focusing on the aftermath of Heathcliff’s sordid affair with Catherine, which is where some of the novel’s darkest parts lie.
On its own, Wuthering Heights also delivers plenty of stand-out acting performances. Yusaku Matsuda’s Onimaru is electrifying, as he alters his physicality and mental state over the film’s two-hour and 11-minute runtime, showing just how great an actor he was before his untimely death from bladder cancer. In fact, all the cast deliver standout performances, and the way they intermingle helps make the apocalyptic finale, ripped right from The Northman (2022), all the more striking. If “Wuthering Heights” left you wanting for a more depraved tale of vengeance and resentment, consider giving the Japanese version a shot. After all, by most accounts, it is the best adaptation of the novel ever put to film.
