Everyone loves an underdog, there are plenty of examples throughout cinema of the quote on quote “little guy” rising to the top and people just can’t seem to get enough. Emerald Fennell’s “Saltburn” is a story about an introverted college student gaining confidence and coming out of his shell… kind of.
Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) is finishing his third term at Oxford as a scholarship student from Prescot. During his stay at Oxford, Oliver is seemingly having a hard time fitting in with the rest of the freshman class. Oliver notices some of the popular faces, including a student from a wealthy English family named Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi) with whom he begins to obsess. He manages to befriend Felix and they become close. When some of Oliver’s family issues arise, Felix invites Oliver to his family’s summer estate called Saltburn to help distract him. Meeting Felix’s family, Oliver comes off shy and innocent. The only one who truly seems to welcome him is Felix’s mother, Elspeth (Rosamund Pike), allowing him to get more comfortable with the rest of the family. Over the next few months, Oliver begins to win over each member of the Catton family in shocking and disturbing ways.
Before the movie came out on Nov. 17 of 2023, there didn’t seem to be much coverage and media surrounding the film. All of a sudden, everyone was talking about “Saltburn,” and they still are. There were videos about peoples reactions to watching the movie and how startled they were. Inevitably, I was curious as to what all of the talk was about.
To say the very least about “Saltburn,” it is quite possibly the most interesting, appalling, yet engaging film I have ever seen. Each character is interesting in their own way and has their own characteristics that make them more compelling, therefore making the plot more captivating. One thing that can for sure be said about this movie is that it’s unique, and I have yet to see a movie like it.
Oliver Quick is a complex yet simple character. He keeps to himself and only seems to truly open up around the people he’s close with. Even though he seems so easily read, Oliver has lustful and psychopathic tendencies that make him hard to relate with. Barry Keoghan does a great job at capturing the mind of an obsessive person and how they present themselves to those around them. His obsession and intellect is exemplified multiple times throughout the movie, and you can’t help but be fascinated by it. At times I felt bad for his character, but as the story progressed that sympathy quickly disappeared. His performance as Oliver makes me very excited to see his upcoming films, such as the Joker in “The Batman 2.”
One of the main reasons that “Saltburn” is still so relevant, even two months after its release, is because of “Priscilla” star Jacob Elordi. Elordi perfectly captures the essence of who Felix Catton is supposed to be. The charming, handsome and empathetic rich kid who notices Oliver’s struggle at Oxford and is there for him when no one else is. Felix can sometimes come off as rude and inconsiderate when he gets annoyed or fed up with Oliver, which is just how friendships go. Elordi is good at portraying this aspect of their friendship and the struggles that people have.
As strange and shocking as the plot of the movie is, “Saltburn” keeps you engaged and invested in the story. It’s a movie with a lot of distressing and disturbing moments. But all of these things contribute to the unique and original idea for a story such as “Saltburn.”
You can watch “Saltburn” on Amazon Prime Video with a monthly subscription.
“Saltburn”: ★★★★☆
