Love Lies Bleeding

Rage and revenge simmer beneath the surface of Love Lies Bleeding, a neo-noir queer romantic thriller that effectively balances quirky humor with shocking violence.

Pulsating with sweaty sexual energy, the film captures an atmosphere of grungy nostalgia with its seedy 1980s throwback vibe, driven by ferocious performances and stylish visuals from director Rose Glass (Saint Maud).

Immersing us in a testosterone-fueled world of chain-smokers with denim cutoffs and pumped-up chauvinists with fanny packs, the film pokes fun at the addictions and decadent excesses of the era — from steroids to body image to power and control.

Those same superficial vices also contribute to the circumstances that prompt a quest for vengeance — and could tear the film’s central relationship apart.

We’re introduced to Lou (Kristen Stewart) as she cleans toilets at a rural New Mexico gym run by her gun-loving father (Ed Harris) and managed by her sleazy brother-in-law (Dave Franco).

Lou would rather not deal with either one of them, but does find herself immediately drawn to Jackie (Katy O’Brian), an aspiring bodybuilder who stops in for a workout on her way to a competition in Las Vegas.

As their romance deepens, Jackie’s physical strength and sassy attitude conceal an internal vulnerability. She’s also an addict with anger issues.

Their plans to escape together to California are interrupted by an incident involving Lou’s sister (Jena Malone) that exposes some family secrets and an eventual power struggle involving betrayal and murder. Then there’s the persistent meddling of a local girl (Anna Baryshnikov) attracted to Lou and not as innocent as she first appears.

Stewart and O’Brian bring depth and complexity to their roles, establishing a convincing chemistry while navigating this world populated by creeps and oddballs. Their intimate moments, accentuated by closeups of Jackie’s muscular features, convey both passion and playfulness.

The subversive screenplay by Glass and Weronika Tofilska settles for a more conventional narrative framework in the second half as the crimes attract attention from authorities and sinister motives necessitate a final showdown.

Like the protagonists in Love Lies Bleeding, the film’s more ambitious ideas don’t always pan out. Yet despite their flaws and moral ambivalence, we root for them to make it — together.

Rated R, 104 minutes.