LOVE LIES BLEEDING

In this second film by Rose Glass, who wrote and directed it, there are two main characters: Lou (played by Kristen Stewart) who is gay and works at her dad's gym, and Jackie (Katy O'Brian), who is a bisexual bodybuilder just arrived in the town en route to a contest in Las Vegas.

Lou and Jackie hit it off straightaway, launching into a torrid love affair.  

There's only one fly in the ointment: Lou's brother-in-law Dave is a scumbag with anger management issues who beats up his wife from time to time.  When he hospitalises her, Jackie, who has her own anger management issues (maybe exacerbated by the steroids Lou has introduced her to) goes around to his house and kills him in an uncontrolled fit of rage.

Although Lou despised Dave she's not exactly thrilled at this turn of events, not least because she and Jackie now need to dispose of the body.

At this point complications rapidly ensue.  These mainly arise from the fact that Lou's father (Ed Harris, with very weird hair) is some kind of criminal kingpin in the town and he is now worried that some of his history may come to light.  He and Lou have a complicated relationship given that in the past he involved her in his criminal activities, which now she rejects.

It's filmed well, with fine performances all round, especially by Stewart, who once again demonstrates her knack for fully inhabiting any character she plays.

But because I didn't find either Lou or Jackie likeable or interesting characters I began to zone out the end, despite a very surreal moment which seemed to have come from a completely different film.  

RATING: ✓ Cheers