The Haunting Resonance of ‘House’: A Tale of Two Interpretations
Emerald Fennell’s cinematic reimagining of Emily Brontë’s classic, “Wuthering Heights,” arrived with considerable anticipation, particularly regarding its soundtrack. Among the most talked-about inclusions was Charli XCX and John Cale’s haunting track, “House.” Yet, while the song itself is a masterclass in building dread and confinement, its deployment in the film left many critics, including myself, profoundly underwhelmed. Ironically, it’s the chaotic, creative world of TikTok that has truly unlocked the song’s unsettling power.
When ‘House’ Lost Its Way on the Moors
From its isolated, creaking strings to its blazing, “Wall of Sound” crescendo, Charli XCX and John Cale’s “House” is designed to evoke a visceral sense of entrapment and burgeoning madness. It perfectly mirrors the claustrophobic despair inherent in Brontë’s novel. My excitement to see how Fennell would weave this sonic tapestry into her vision was palpable. However, the film’s opening minutes, featuring young Cathy and Nelly tearing across vast moors after a frenzied hanging, felt like a jarring misstep.
Despite Anthony Willis’s additional orchestrations lending the track an undeniable cinematic grandeur, its placement felt incongruous. How could such an introspective, claustrophobic anthem soundtrack a scene of wild abandon across expansive landscapes and a rowdy crowd? The visuals and the song, while individually compelling, failed to coalesce. The creeping dread and isolation that define “House” were lost, replaced by what felt like an attempt to simply overload the audience’s senses. In this context, the potent refrain, “I think I’m gonna die in this house,” was stripped of its profound impact.
Missed Opportunities Within the Walls
The film presented numerous opportunities for “House” to truly shine. Consider Cathy’s early anxieties about wasting away at Wuthering Heights with her ailing father, or her later realization of being trapped in a “gilded prison” at Thrushcross Grange after marrying Edgar Linton. A song explicitly titled “House” practically begs to be tied to a character’s fraught relationship with the very structures that define their existence and confinement. Imagine the chilling resonance if the track underscored Cathy’s internal turmoil, amplifying her sense of impending doom within those oppressive walls.
TikTok: The Unexpected Curator of Dread
While the film struggled to harness “House” to its full potential, the internet, specifically TikTok, has proven to be an unexpected and brilliant curator. The song has exploded as a meme, providing the perfect soundtrack to moments of relatable despair, unsettling visuals, or darkly humorous scenarios. These short, user-generated videos, often infused with a comedic twist, perfectly weaponize the track’s unsettling power. They understand the core essence of “House” – its ability to articulate a feeling of being trapped, overwhelmed, or on the brink – and deploy it with precision and impact.
In a fascinating turn, a platform known for fleeting trends has managed to capture the profound, unsettling spirit of Charli XCX and John Cale’s creation more effectively than a major cinematic adaptation. Sometimes, the most potent artistic interpretations emerge from the most unexpected corners, proving that a song’s true home isn’t always where you’d expect to find it.
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