Love Lies Bleeding @Sundance 2024

FERNTV was fortunate enough to screen director Rose Glass’ debut film during the Toronto International Film Festival. Saint Maud was one of the most creative and dark installments from A24. Even though the film was under Peter Kuplowsky‘s Midnight Madness program, the film did not receive the recognition it truly deserved. Especially coming from A24. Not to worry because her sophomore installment promises to be stronger than ever. Love Lies Bleeding will prove that Rose Glass means business and she is serious about being a notable filmmaker.

Love Lies Bleeding is about a reclusive gym manager Lou, played by Kristen Stewart, who falls for a bodybuilder Jackie played by Katy O’Brian in the always interesting world of Las Vegas. Their relationship ignites right away but is soon to be followed by some mischief and violence when Lou’s crime-ridden family gets involved with the two.

Taking place mostly in a small-town gym set against the backdrop of the outside city limits of Las Vegas comes this neat lesbian muscular thriller. Love Lies Bleeding packs a punch on a modern Americana-type vibe. If the Cliff Booth and the Charles Manson confrontations took place in this pocket of time, this film would present what it would look like today. Director Rose Glass does not only have her gas on the pedal in this film but she has a sense of urgency that she needs to tell this story.