Emerald Fennel, known for her award-winning movie Promising Young Woman, has done it again. Her provocative movie Saltburn has garnered an audience of crazed fans and psycho–thriller buffs (yep! the very ones behind the online outbreak of Jacob Elordi edits.) Starring Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamund Pike, and Alison Oliver, Saltburn leaves viewers pondering just how much of its over-the-top plot constitutes a cinematic masterpiece and how much of it was intended to do just what it did: make the movie a knockout viral sensation?
This 2023 film explores the unsettling story of one Oliver Quick, played by an enigmatic Keoghan, who befriends wealthy and alluring Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi) at Oxford and spends a salacious summer with him and the rest of his unhinged family at their country castle, Saltburn. Serving as a scathing commentary on the absurdity that is generational wealth, the movie simultaneously weaves a dark, psycho-sexual narrative that will leave spectators’ mouths agape and eyes wide.
The extreme plot is elevated further by dramatic aesthetics created by the Oscar-winning La La Land cinematographer Linus Sandgren. From sprawling wildflower fields to foggy mazes containing minotaur statues to dusty, sun-filled libraries, oaken hallways, dreary ponds, and low bridges, Saltburn is filled with breathtaking visuals that transform it from a simple film into a work of art.
Similarly, the movie’s casting crew ensured stunning performances all around. Of course, it would be criminal of me to write a review of Saltburn without mentioning Jacob Elordi, whose careless and insouciant character somehow managed to attract a digital cult dedicated entirely to him and his six-foot-five-ness. Blindsided by their wealth, he and his casually cruel mother (played by the charming Rosamund Pike) drift through life unbothered. That is until Oliver comes along.
With several Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Satellite Award nominations, Barry Keoghan’s acting (and his striking blue eyes) undoubtedly captivated my undivided attention for the film’s duration. This Irish actor, known for his role in The Banshees of Inisherin, possesses a quiet, quirky, and almost dangerous allure that feels personal yet somehow befits any character he plays. I should add–without spoiling too much–that the risks he took as an actor deserve considerable commendation.
While the more reputable actors did bring the house down, one of my personal favorites was Alison Oliver, playing the role of a washed-up wallflower, Venetia. This star on the rise debuted her career with Hulu’s adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel Conversations with Friends and left me starstruck at her tortured, poetic performance as a lost, girly mess of the highest order.
That being said, Saltburn still sparks controversy amongst many viewers. Most find its irrealism and excessive sexuality too exaggerated. For others, its outlandishness just made it all the more predictable. And to top it all, some wonder if its risque storyline only functions as cinematic clickbait, selling tickets through TikTok reactions. Personally, I loved its indecent, dramatic quality and the summertime nostalgia it filled me with. As for you, dear reader, I cannot say. You’ll have to find out for yourself.
Streaming now on Prime Video!
