Movie Review - Saltburn

Director: Emerald Fennell
Genre: Drama/ Comedy/ Thriller
Runtime: 131 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, Carey Mulligan, Alison Oliver
 
Description: A student (Barry Keoghan) at Oxford University finds himself drawn into the world of a charming and aristocratic classmate (Jacob Elordi), who invites him to his eccentric family’s sprawling estate for a summer never to be forgotten.

Review: Director Emerald Fennell impressed a few years ago, with the film “Promising Young Woman”. I won several awards. Her new movie “Saltburn” is not for the faint of heart, let me say it’s not for everyone.

While struggling to find his place at Oxford University, student Oliver Quick is drawn into the world of the charming and aristocratic Felix Catton. He invites Oliver to Saltburn, the massive beautiful estate of his eccentric family, for a summer to remember.

The film has an unusual style, especially when Oliver is invited along to the Catton family’s eccentric palace. The actor of the two leading men, played by Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi, feels mysterious enough to keep it interesting throughout the film, and at times you’re maddingly unsure where to look. The film has some very edgy scenes that make you feel vicariously embarrassed or uncomfortable. It's provocative, raunchy, raw and anything but subtle. That scene in the bathtub will stay with me forever.

I can’t believe how good Keoghan is in this movie. What a daring, challenging role for him. So well done. “Saltburn” gets a pretty high rating on IMDb, but overall I’ve read a lot of negative reviews. I get why people would not like it, see all of the above. I always love it when a director does something daring, and Fennell succeeded in doing so. Again, praising her for doing something no-standard. “Saltburn” is a really good movie, but not easy to watch and definitely not for everyone.

Rating: 4/ 5