Rose Glass follows up Saint Maud, her incendiary debut from 2019, with an unapologetically queer and decidedly pulpy thriller that solidifies her status as a visionary with a gift for characterisation and eye-grabbing imagery.

The setting is a gym in small-town New Mexico where manager Lou (Kristen Stewart) casts a baleful eye over the bulging physiques of the clientele. Her attention is caught by chiselled beauty Jackie (Katy O’Brian); sparks fly, steroids are taken, iron is pumped, but they run afoul of Lou’s dad (a marvellously coiffured Ed Harris), whose criminal exploits threaten the young lovers, plus Lou’s sister Beth (Jena Malone), and brother-in-law JJ (Dave Franco). Gleefully violent and amoral, Love Lies Bleeding is maximalist filmmaking that revels in excess whilst never losing sight of the burning passion at its core.

There will be Open Captioned screenings on Monday 6th at 18.20 and Wednesday 8th at 13.15.

Notes by David O’Mahony