Love Lies Bleeding is hitting theaters this weekend. Rose Glass’s latest follows the story of Lou, a reclusive gym manager who falls for Jackie, an ambitious bodybuilder who’s heading to Las Vegas to pursue her dream. The film stars Kristen Stewart, Katy M. O’Brian and Dave Franco.

When we meet Jackie (Katy O’Brian), she’s in the back of a car having sex with JJ (Dave Franco). After they are done, JJ gives her his business card and tells her to come see him as he will give her a job. That night, we see her sleeping by a bridge and awakening to the morning sun, which she begins to get a workout in before heading in to see JJ about the job. This is where we meet Lou Sr. (Ed Harris), JJ’s boss, who has agreed to give her a job. 

In comes Lou (Kristen Stewart), who works at a gym, and notices Jackie working out one night. Jackie’s muscle physique catches her attention, so much so it distracts her from her surroundings. Lou shouts out that the gym is closing, and outside, Jackie asks Lou to bum a cigarette. When two men come out of the gym asking if Jackie wants to go for a drink, she says no, and it gets confrontational, leading to her punching the man, and he punches back. Afterward, Lou helps Jackie with her wounds, and the two end up sleeping together. 

Lou is trying to forget the things of her past and protect her sister, while Jackie is chasing her dream of being a bodybuilder. This begins a wild Bonnie & Clyde-like journey with love, murder, and everything in between. 

Ross Glass broke onto the scene with her twisted horror film Saint Maud. The film was a masterclass in script, horror, and masterclass in thriller, which only made me excited to see her next project. 

Glass breaks down the rules of “genre” films, where most writers and directors attempt to fit into one box. Instead, Glass makes her own damn box with Love, Lies Bleeding. She crafts a heist thriller mixed with a crime family, love story, and dream chasing, all wrapped up in one with some layers of comedy, romance, and horror elements. 

Glass spares no details when laying the groundwork with her main characters by mixing and mingling each pivotal character before they ever met. Every person in this journey has a purpose to deliver a layer of the story you don’t see coming. It’s as much a love story as it is an edge-of-your-seat thriller. You truly never know where this story goes, even up until the final moments of the movie.

Kristen Stewart is one of the best working actresses, and I love her continued approach to tackling different roles. As Lou, you meet a somewhat shy yet sturdy woman who seems to be skating by life with her regular job and a dark and gloomy past. Stewart appeared at home in the role of Lou, and I think it’s because she played a version of herself. There is this level of comfort you see with Stewart throughout this film, where you see this regular human who is very relatable.

Katy O’Brian, I apologize for not recognizing your game before this film, but my goodness, what a star. Glass’s writing of Jackie brought this in-depth look at someone chasing their dreams regardless of the amount of curveballs thrown her way. O’Brian had a level of empathy conveyed with such precision you couldn’t help but invest in her story. Even in the darkest moments of Jackie’s life, you don’t want to root against her. It takes a lot to bring a perfromance like this to life. The physicality, emotion, and charm needed to bring this to life wasn’t easy, and I was in awe of O’Brian’s work.

Overall, I loved Love Lies Bleeding as the technical aspects of the film match the brilliant script and performances. I adore that Glass doesn’t shy away from having the movie be a little weird, especially towards the end of the film, because who doesn’t love a little high-risk, wild twist within the story? Go support this incredible film hitting theaters this weekend.