I always approach A24 films cautiously. While most of the movies from the studio offer an experimental approach, sometimes the themes leave me feeling a certain type of undesirable way. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely appreciate this level of filmmaking. I just need my mind in the right headspace before I press “play.”

But when I heard the studio was releasing a romantic thriller, I knew I had to check it out. Despite it not being marketed as a horror film, A24 has become a horror fan’s go-to studio. If you’re not familiar, the company’s more popular movies include The VVitch (2015), Hereditary (2018), Midsommar (2019) and Ti West’s X trilogy. While Love Lies Bleeding isn’t technically horror, it has some horrific images and elements that a horror fan will love, but possibly not the general movie-watching crowd.

Even if you don’t like scary movies, I believe it’s good to know you may have to suspend your belief at some points in this film, but when you think about it, that’s most A24 films, right?

Love Lies Bleeding is about gym manager Lou (Kristen Stewart) living in ’80s Americana New Mexico under the guise of her crime lord father (played by Ed Harris), who owns a gun range, and we suspect has done some nasty crimes in his life. Jackie (Katy O’Brian) is a hitchhiking bodybuilder en route to a Las Vegas competition, who stops by the gym and catches the eye of Lou. What starts off as a steamy, hot romance soon bolts itself into a world of brutality, violence and crime that neither Jackie nor Lou can outrun. Lou is the catalyst, due to her family drama and the selling of steroids at her gym, in which she introduces Jackie to, thus changing Jackie’s life forever.

This is the second feature from writer-director Rose Glass, who previously directed the psychological-religious horror, Saint Maud. Both films have been hits for Glass and I look forward to seeing where she goes from here. Cinematographer Ben Fordesman has worked with Glass on both films now and you can see how magical of a pairing these two are. The words that popped into my brain during the film are “ethereal” and “surreal.”

The imagery of the night sky with hundreds of stars lends an atmospheric feeling, almost not of this world. The use of red-tinged images to represent flashbacks adds to the anxiety of the film. The closeup scenes of sweat and muscles bulging is so disarming that it adds to the building anxiety and an emotionally dreadful feeling. I see a lot of people comparing the style of this movie to David Lynch and David Cronenberg and I can definitely see that in a lot of the trippy imagery.

Kristen Stewart gives a stellar performance as Lou. I’ve always been a fan of hers and love to see her range grow with the films she’s been a part of. Her character is a reclusive, anxious woman who cares deeply for her sister and eventually Jackie. The chemistry between Kristen’s character and Jackie is natural and a perfect match. Fun fact: There was an intimacy coordinator on set, so the sex scenes were pretty much choreographed, which helped the actors feel more comfortable with each other and add to the natural feel.

The rest of the cast is stacked (no pun intended): Katy O’Brien is so jacked in this movie; it will make you want to hit the gym as soon as you can. She does a wonderful job portraying the scary side of steroid use and as the movie goes on, you will descend into madness along with her. Kristen and Katy carry this movie, but we cannot forget to mention Jena Malone as Lou’s sister, who is in an abusive relationship with her deadbeat husband, JJ, played by Dave Franco. Ed Harris, as Lou’s father, is what you would expect from him: creepy, manipulative and intimidating.

Love Lies Bleeding is a wild ride that grabs you and doesn’t let go for 104 minutes. It’s a blend of romance, crime and thriller, with great pacing that never leaves you bored. Whereas a lot of A24 films I’ve seen can feel bleak or emotionally draining, this one was not. You might be scratching your head toward the end but keep an open mind and this might be one of your favorite movies of the year.

Stream it now on MAX.