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Lou, a reclusive gym manager, finds his life disrupted by a passionate relationship with Jackie, an ambitious bodybuilder pursuing her dreams in Las Vegas. Their romance unexpectedly stirs up a violent confrontation with Lou's difficult past and the hidden criminal activities of his family.

Lou, a reclusive gym manager, finds his life disrupted by a passionate relationship with Jackie, an ambitious bodybuilder pursuing her dreams in Las Vegas. Their romance unexpectedly stirs up a violent confrontation with Lou's difficult past and the hidden criminal activities of his family.

Does Love Lies Bleeding have end credit scenes?

No!

Love Lies Bleeding does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of Love Lies Bleeding

Explore the complete cast of Love Lies Bleeding, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


Ratings and Reviews for Love Lies Bleeding

See how Love Lies Bleeding is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where Love Lies Bleeding stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Echo Score

The Movie Echo Score

76

Love Lies Bleeding delivers a bold and visually arresting exploration of obsession that is driven by striking performances but hampered by uneven pacing and divisive tonal shifts. The film’s direction and production design create a feverish atmosphere that many critics praised for its vivid detail and visceral energy. Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brien anchor the narrative with calibrated restraint and fiery chemistry, though some supporting characters lack development. Ultimately, the movie’s impactful imagery and intense emotion leave a strong initial impression but limit its broader accessibility.

The Movie Echo Score Breakdown for Love Lies Bleeding

85
Echo Score

Art & Craft

In terms of art and craft, Love Lies Bleeding presents dynamic direction and meticulous production design that underpin its intense aesthetic. Critics highlighted Rose Glass’s controlled framing and editing choices alongside an evocative color palette that evokes 1980s nostalgia. Although some viewers found the visual intensity excessive, the striking cinematography and decisive editing consistently reinforce the film’s visceral atmosphere.

80
Echo Score

Character & Emotion

When it comes to character and emotion, Love Lies Bleeding is anchored by attentive performances and compelling chemistry between its leads. Kristen Stewart’s restrained expressiveness and Katy O’Brien’s physical intensity earned widespread acclaim, generating palpable emotional stakes. Some secondary characters, however, lack sufficient development and come across as one-dimensional in comparison. Ultimately, the leads’ nuanced interactions drive the film’s emotional core despite uneven support.

70
Echo Score

Story & Flow

In terms of story and flow, the film offers an original descent into obsession with moments of gripping engagement and measured pacing. Reviews praised its adrenaline-fueled sequences that sustain tension and Hitchcockian plot layers, while others noted gaps in narrative cohesion and meandering subplots that dilute momentum. The ending’s surreal turn divides opinion, adding experimental flair but leaving some viewers unsettled. Overall, the story remains bold and intriguing though not uniformly coherent.

88
Echo Score

Sensory Experience

When considering sensory experience, Love Lies Bleeding delivers a visceral blend of intense sound design and provocative visuals that reinforce its feverish tone. Critics commended the thumping score and the precise mixing of ambient and diegetic sounds, which heighten the film’s charged atmosphere. The visual style—from slick body-oil aesthetics to stark desert landscapes—draws both admiration and occasional criticism for overwhelming the senses. In sum, the film’s sensory elements remain bold and immersive.

55
Echo Score

Rewatch Factor

Regarding rewatch factor, Love Lies Bleeding presents a potent experience that may challenge repeated viewings due to its unrelenting intensity and graphic content. While some viewers appreciate discovering subtextual details on a second watch, the film’s relentless pace and visceral shock elements can become taxing. The strong lead performances and stylized direction offer reasons to revisit, but the demanding tone may limit its enduring replay value for a broader audience.

Metacritic

77

Metascore

6.3

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

94%

TOMATOMETER

review

81%

User Score

IMDb

6.6 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

66

%

User Score

Letterboxd

3.5

From 3.6K fan ratings

Movie Insider

5.00/5

From 1 fan rating

Take the Ultimate Love Lies Bleeding Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of Love Lies Bleeding with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


Love Lies Bleeding Quiz: Test your knowledge on the intricate and intense storyline of 'Love Lies Bleeding'.

Who plays the character Lou in the movie?

Awards & Nominations for Love Lies Bleeding

Explore awards

Discover all the awards and nominations received by Love Lies Bleeding, from Oscars to film festival honors. Learn how Love Lies Bleeding and its cast and crew have been recognized by critics and the industry alike.


78th British Academy Film Awards 2025

Nomination

Outstanding British Film

56th NAACP Image Awards 2025

Nomination

Outstanding British Film

40th Independent Spirit Awards 2025

Nomination

Best Breakthrough Performance

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for Love Lies Bleeding

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Read the complete plot summary of Love Lies Bleeding, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


Lou, played by Kristen Stewart, is employed at a gritty gym, where she finds herself unclogging toilets while being persistently pursued by Daisy, portrayed by Anna Baryshnikov, for a date. The story takes a turn when Jackie, played by Katy O’Brian, arrives in town and engages in a brief liaison with JJ, represented by Dave Franco, to secure a job at a nearby gun range. Stranded without a place to stay, Jackie finds refuge beneath a bridge, mingling her nights with workouts.

Lou makes a visit to her sister, Beth, played by Jena Malone, who resides in a chaotic household filled with children and shows evident signs of abuse from her husband, JJ. While JJ takes Jackie on a tour of the gun range, he introduces her to the owner, portrayed by Ed Harris. On visiting the gym, Lou is instantly captivated by Jackie, but her daydreaming is cut short by the inquiry of two FBI agents regarding her estranged father. When Lou and Jackie chat outside, they’re interrupted by two patrons who make advances towards Jackie, only to be met with her fierce rejection. Their scuffle leads Lou to rush Jackie inside for safety.

The conversation shifts to Jackie’s aspiration to travel to Vegas for a bodybuilding competition. Offering support, Lou presents her a stash of steroids, which prompts Jackie to agree to an injection. This leads the two to cross boundaries, sharing an intimate moment that escalates into a passionate encounter at Lou’s apartment.

As the plot unfolds, Lou grapples with the fact that Jackie works at the gun range owned by her father, Lou Sr. The relationship blossoms into a steamy and intense connection filled with love and steroid use. Meanwhile, Lou Sr. operates a criminal smuggling operation and begins imparting gun skills to Jackie.

An awkward double date with JJ and Beth showcases Beth’s visible bruises, resulting in Lou confronting JJ in a volatile bathroom encounter where he hints that Jackie could just be using her. This tension drives the couple to flee when they spot FBI agents nearby.

Lou’s life takes a drastic turn when she learns that Beth has been hospitalized due to serious injuries caused by JJ. Despite her fury, Lou feels powerless as the police require Beth to file charges for any legal action to be taken against JJ. Witnessing Lou’s devastation, Jackie becomes enraged and embarks on a path of vengeance against JJ.

Lou stumbles upon a grim scene at Beth’s house, discovering Jackie in a catatonic state beside JJ’s body. After a moment of shock, Lou sets about the grim task of disposing of the body with Jackie’s reluctant help. As they push JJ’s car into a gorge and watch it engulfed in flames, Lou reassures Jackie that they will not be implicated.

The aftermath sees tensions rise as Lou attempts to maintain normalcy while Jackie, driven by her steroid-induced rage, heads for a bodybuilding competition in Vegas. However, her performance crumbles, leading to a humiliating meltdown on stage where she lashes out violently at other competitors, resulting in her arrest.

The drama heightens when Lou Sr. confronts Lou over the repercussions of their actions, forcing her to navigate a dangerous web of bloody cover-ups and deceit. Lou’s chaotic attempts to protect Jackie lead to a series of violent confrontations including a harrowing moment where Jackie’s loyalty is put to the test, ultimately culminating in a showdown between Lou and her father.

Taxed by a whirlwind of betrayal, love, and violence, Lou makes a crucial decision to leave her past behind, but not before dealing with one last reminder of betrayal—Daisy, who proves to be a lingering threat. As Lou drives off into the desert alongside Jackie, she makes one final act of desperation, forever altering their fates in a striking conclusion to their tumultuous journey.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for Love Lies Bleeding

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from Love Lies Bleeding. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


Official Trailer

Official Trailer 2

Official Preview

More Powerful Than a Punch - Official Clip

Jackie & Lou Gym Scene

Jackie & Lou Fight

Jackie Meets Lou Sr.

Lou & Jackie Get Close

Steamy Bathroom Scene

Final Scene

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


lesbianfemale bodybuilderfemale female kissfemale rear nuditylesbian sexfemale nuditynon traditional familylesbianismtoe suckingfemale topless nudityf rateddrug crimetitle directed by femalebodybuilderfitnessfemale muscle growthlesbian foot fetishsex sceneunclogging toilet with handreference to popeye the sailorfingering a bullet holegiant womanmullet haircutrear nudityfemale masturbationshaved vaginasexualized female attiretoxicitysexualized female movie postersexualized female imageryfistfightyear 1989three word titlef worddrug addictionalliteration in title1980slas vegas nevadagym managerviolencefemale female relationshiplesbian protagonistbisexual female protagonistbisexuallesbian woman bisexual woman relationshipbisexual protagonistlesbian woman bisexual woman sexbisexual womanlesbian woman bisexual woman loveclogged toilet

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