Love Lies Bleeding (2024)

by Linda Kay

Directed by: Rose Glass

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: Gym manager Lou (Kristen Stewart) falls for aspiring competitive bodybuilder Jackie (Katy O’Brian), but their relationship is severely tested when incidents arising from various members of Lou’s family threaten to shatter their world.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Lou owns a longhair ginger tabby cat named Happy Meal who greets her when she arrives home.

Love Lies Bleeding - Lou Kristen Stewart greeting longhair ginger tabby cat Happy Meal Queso in apartment

Lou feeds the cat, whose name is on his dish.

Love Lies Bleeding - longhair ginger tabby cat Happy Meal Queso eating from bowl

But Happy Meal seems to prefer nibbling on the TV dinner Lou leaves unattended when she falls asleep on the couch.

Love Lies Bleeding - Lou Kristen Stewart sleeping on couch as longhair ginger tabby cat Happy Meal Queso runs past
Love Lies Bleeding - longhair ginger tabby cat Happy Meal Queso eating from TV dinner tray
Love Lies Bleeding - Lou Kristen Stewart sleeping on couch as longhair ginger tabby cat Happy Meal Queso runs past and eats left over TV dinner animated gif

Lou is an obvious cat lover and has a few cat themed photos around her house, including an old Halloween decoration.

Love Lies Bleeding - Lou Kristen Stewart with black cat decoration in background

Happy Meal is notably absent throughout much of the film then returns midway, scratching at the door of the apartment wanting out. When Jackie tries to comply she realizes that Lou has locked her in.

Love Lies Bleeding - longhair ginger tabby cat Happy Meal Queso scratching at door
Love Lies Bleeding - longhair ginger tabby cat Happy Meal Queso at door as Jackie approaches

The FBI pay Lou a visit to ask some questions, not knowing there is a dead body behind the couch. Happy Meal starts sniffing around then laps at blood spilling out, which the agents don’t seem to notice.

Love Lies Bleeding - longhair ginger tabby cat Happy Meal Queso sniffing at couch
Love Lies Bleeding - longhair ginger tabby cat Happy Meal Queso lapping blood from floor

Still later, Happy Meal is standing by an open window. When Lou runs over to close it, a gunman fires at her. There is some concern that Happy Meal might be a casualty of the gunfire but fortunately the cat has conveniently disappeared from the scene.

Love Lies Bleeding - Lou Kristen Stewart seeing longhair ginger tabby cat Happy Meal Queso in window

His survival is confirmed when Lou leaves the apartment and takes the cat with her.

Love Lies Bleeding - Lou Kristen Stewart with longhair ginger tabby cat Happy Meal Queso in truck

As Lou and Jackie drive away at the end, Happy Meal is still with them.

Love Lies Bleeding - longhair ginger tabby cat Happy Meal Queso in truck with Jackie Katy O'Brian
Love Lies Bleeding - longhair ginger tabby cat Happy Meal Queso in truck with Jackie Katy O'Brian

Happy Meal was played by Queso the cat, trained by Chelsey and Kip Lewis.

Love Lies Bleeding - Lou Kristen Stewart petting longhair ginger tabby cat Happy Meal Queso

Final Mewsings: When love lies bleeding, your cat will lick up the spill!

Many thanks to Aaron Shuster for letting us know about the cat in this film.

Relevant Links:

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