Saltburn is a dark and twisted thriller that is not going to be for everyone, but for those who enjoy it pushing boundaries, will love it.
Saltburn is not your typical thriller. It is dark, twisted, and quite sexy. Boundaries are pushed constantly, but each time it makes sense for the story that is being told and doesn’t feel out of place. There is a lot happening as the movie feels like it changes genre and theming every so often — but it works. The cast is incredible and the story is intense.
This film follows a young man, Oliver (Barry Keoghan), who goes to college at a prestigious school. He doesn’t fit in with the rich kids, but one day, the course of his life changes when he gets the chance to help Felix (Jacob Elordi). The two become friends and Oliver is eventually invited to spend the summer with Felix at his family home in Saltburn. It ends up being a summer he will never forget.
Note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Saltburn would not exist without the labor of the writers and actors in both unions.
While the entire cast is fantastic, Barry Keoghan steals the show. He is the perfect choice for the lead character, Oliver, and constantly keeps you guessing about his personality and how he really feels about things. Fans of his already know how talented he is, but this is a career best performance that he delivers in Saltburn.
It probably still would be an entertaining movie with a different actor in the role, but it definitely would not hit the same. The role of Oliver is by far the most important one. There are many layers to him. Think of Oliver as an onion and the more time we spend with him, the more layers are peeled away, until a perfectly twisted core is revealed. It’s something that Barry pulls off seemingly with ease.
Jacob Elordi is the perfect yin to Barry’s yang. The relationship between these two is at the heart of Saltburn, and without two actors who are willing to go as far as they need to in order to pull it off, Saltburn doesn’t work. Luckily Jacob and Barry give their everything. And it shows.
Rosamund Pike is hilarious, and offers some much needed comedic relief from time to time, as does Richard E. Grant, who plays her husband. The two are Felix’s parents. His sister is portrayed by Alison Oliver, who is also an important piece to the puzzle. She plays her role perfectly.
Then there is Archie Madekwe, who plays Farleigh, one of Felix’s best friends. He has given some great film performances in the past, but he truly shines here, leaving it all on the table.
Saltburn might be unsettling and hard to watch at times, but when the ending comes, everything ties together in a shocking and unsuspecting way. There is suspense, humor, and several scenes than are far more sexy than they should be. It is impossible not to at least be intrigued by Oliver, which is largely thanks to Barry’s performance, as well as the writing.
Saltburn‘s writer and director Emerald Fennel previously wrote and directed Pretty Young Woman, a film that was also slightly disturbing but ultimately delivers a powerful message. This movie is similar, but also takes things even further. Without spoiling anything, there is a message here of haves and have nots and the dangers of obsession.
There is absolutely no doubt that Saltburn will not be for everyone. There are some scenes that will be too much for some viewers, leaving them feeling uncomfortable and unable to watch. But for those who are willing to relish in the awkward and twisted situations, there will be pay off in the end.
Saltburn is a dark and twisted thriller that isn’t afraid to push boundaries. It gets weird, sexy, and unsettling, which all works for the story being told. Barry Keoghan delivers a career best performance.
Rating: 5 out of 5
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About Saltburn
Academy Award winning filmmaker Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman) brings us a wicked tale of privilege and desire.
Struggling to find his place at Oxford University, student Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) finds himself drawn into the world of the charming and aristocratic Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi), who invites him to Saltburn, his eccentric family’s sprawling estate, for a summer never to be forgotten.
