Saltburn

Saltburn

Now this was an interesting film. It's a mind game. It's manipulation. And it's nefarious. Be prepared to squirm Be prepared to gasp. Be prepared to say "oh dear God" a few times. The movie follows a very shy and quiet Oxford student on his quest to fit in. After a school year, he is invited to join his new friend at his family's enormous castle where we definitely see him in a fish out of water situation.

Then things... happen. Oh boy do they happen. This is all I'm going to say but be prepared for a wild ride, and don't be squeamish. I enjoyed this, but it really deserves its R rating. It's very adult and highlights the depths human beings can go, regardless of material wealth.

You know I love to find the human experience presented, possibly with a lesson in mental health awareness. Oh God no. Perhaps there is awareness, but there is no lesson.

Rosamund Pike does steal the show. Her one liners are absolutely hilarious.

Enjoy the ride.

I really don't understand why this movie is getting such rave reviews on here. Yes, it was very stylish, the music was great, and the acting was good. But the storyline was a HUGE disappointment. I kept waiting for something to happen, and when it finally did I was severely underwhelmed and disappointed that that was the direction the filmmakers went. It's overplayed, not creative or interesting. I saw the movie "Parasite" and I LOVED it. This movie just seemed like a cheap and trashy knock off with some bizarre scenes thrown in there for "shock value". Watch it if you want to see what all the buzz is about, but I'm just saying you might be left disappointed and wishing you would've spent 2.5 hours of your time on something else.

It is 2006, and scholarship student Oliver Quick has just arrived at Oxford. He doesn't fit in with the upper-class atmosphere and has no acquaintances. After befriending Felix Catton, a popular and wealthy fellow student, however, Oliver finally seems to find his place at the University. Invited to the Catton family home- Saltburn- for the summer holidays, Oliver is thrust into the dark heart of the blue bloods. Nothing is as it seems though, as the idyllic vacation transforms into one from hell itself.

Written and directed by Emerald Fennell, 'Saltburn' is an initially intriguing, though ultimately irritatingly derivative, predictable psychological comic-horror. Fennell's narrative begins with promise. In the first act, you aren't sure who to trust, nor where the story is heading. However, after the action moves to the manor house, Saltburn, things devolve into a messy and obvious retread of ideas that have been expressed more eloquently in previous films, be they 'The Talented Mr. Ripley, 'Teorema' or 'The Servant.'

Those films examined themes such as class difference, obsessiveness, personality and manipulation with aplomb and ingenuity. Fennell appears content to skirt around the edges of these themes, never going into them with depth. Nor are the characters in her narrative provided with any kind of motivation for their actions. One, in particular, acts in a violent vacuum of self-obsession and jealously- but why? What made this character the way they are? Fennel never bothers to tell us, seeming satisfied to leave audiences in the dark.

Moreover, her characterization is largely based on stereotypes and cliches. Oliver is essentially just a less charismatic, Scouse Tom Ripley, with darkness beneath a thin veneer of awkward shyness. Felix is exactly like Ripley's object of obsession, Dickie Greenleaf, while his eccentric family are people we've seen before in countless films which mock the aristocracy- 'The Ruling Class' among them. Familiar and lacking in depth, Fennell's characters aren't particularly interesting, nor is her narrative particularly original. Further, while her dialogue is frequently funny, it can also be pretentious- particularly during Oliver's intermittent narration.

Throughout the film, Fennell handles the material with great deference- too much, one might argue. She lets uncomfortable scenes linger interminably, seeming to think this imbues them with some kind of raw power. The ending, featuring full-frontal nudity- reminiscent of the music video to Liam Gallagher's 'Once,' starring a thankfully clothed Eric Cantona- seems self-indulgent and, shall we say, cocky. Furthermore, a twist in the last act is neither surprising nor effective, while also sending the film into the realm of fantasy; so completely does it abandon real-world logic.

Conversely, Linus Sandgren's glossy cinematography is striking. Sandgren makes excellent use of colours and unconventional shots and angles, heightening the suspense of the narrative, as well as compounding the decadence of the Catton family. He employs a ratio of 1.33:1, giving the film a top-heavy, boxed-in look, making locations feel daunting. It is work full of contrast- although, a cynical critic might suggest an over-reliance on cliched visual metaphors, such as reflections, or the obvious juxtaposition of characters wearing devil horns and angel wings.

However, Sandgren's visuals generally come as a boon to proceedings, as does Suzie Davies' rich production design. Textured and detailed, her work fosters a vivid, immersive atmosphere, which Sophie Canale's costume design and Charlotte Dirickx's set decoration compounds. In addition, Anthony Willis's score is stirring. His original pieces are seedy and evocative, while songs used throughout- perhaps most notably Sophie Ellis-Bextor's 'Murder On The Dancefloor'- complement the narrative.

Barry Keoghan stars as Oliver, alongside Jacob Elordi as Felix, Alison Oliver as Felix's sister Venetia and Rosamund Pike as Felix's mother Elspeth. Keoghan is a fascinating actor, who plays strange characters with verve and intelligence. Here, however, he gives an inconsistent performance. When playing Oliver as a weird, insular personality, he shines; though when he has to display his dominant side Keoghan lacks conviction and doesn't convince- an oddly played, oddly written night-time scene with Venetia being clearest evidence of this.

Elordi does much more assured work, despite the fact that the character is just a 2006 version of the aforementioned Greenleaf. He impresses though, overcoming the scant characterisation of the role. Oliver is excellent, underplaying the complexities of her character, while Pike steals the show as the eccentric Elspeth. Richard E. Grant also stars, as Felix's father, but is criminally under-utilised, while Archie Madekwe's grating performance as Felix's cousin is smug and one-note.

In conclusion, Emerald Fennell's 'Saltburn' is a film trying to provoke, though isn't as challenging nor original as its creator thinks it is. Though it is funny from time to time, and the first act is intriguing and suspenseful; the film is ultimately an uneven, predictable and derivative affair. While the cinematography is striking and the score atmospheric, the performance of star Barry Keoghan is inconsistent. Although Rosamund Pike is a delight, the film around her is not worthy of her talents, nor can she save it completely. Not to rub salt in the wound, but this film doesn't burn as brightly as it could have.

Saltburn moves along at a good pace, rather stylish and hip as it creates some anticipation for where it may be going. It develops a bit of mystery but we never understand the motivation for the protagonist character. Not much depth for the various character, so can't get invested in them. Several scenes are designed to depict ridiculous opulence and wealth, so as to contribute to why the main character has disdain for this, yet we don't ever feel this disdain.

As the end approaches it becomes predictable while it quickly and conveniently fills in the holes of whatever mysteries it tried to create. Overall, Saltburn lacks substance and hence I was left feeling with the lack of meaning for whatever message the film is trying to depict.

Saltburn is a bold, unsettling ride that delves deep into the complexities of class, obsession, and moral ambiguity, mixing Greek mythology with contemporary social commentary. The story follows Ollie (played by Barry Keoghan), a shy and awkward Oxford student who's drawn into the luxurious, decadent world of his aristocratic friend, Felix (Jacob Elordi). As the film unravels, it reveals the stark contrast between public personas and private realities, critiquing both societal norms and the shallowness of social media culture.

Winny found the performances absolutely stellar, particularly Barry Keoghan's portrayal of Ollie. He was drawn into the character's obsession and vulnerability, and the dynamics between Ollie and Felix were captivating. Jacob Elordi's portrayal of Felix added a charming yet sinister layer to the film, while Rosamund Pike stole every scene she was in, with her sharp, cutting one-liners and magnetic presence. The trio really made this darkly comedic, disturbing narrative come to life in a way that kept Winny hooked.

Willow, Amy, and Tails had mixed feelings. While Willow acknowledged the strong performances, he felt the pacing and some of the shocking scenes were a bit of a distraction. The film seemed to drag at points, and some of the more intense moments felt jarring rather than adding to the tension. Amy agreed, noting that while the film's exploration of obsession and class was fascinating, some of the more shocking moments-particularly the controversial sex scenes-took away from the overall tone. Tails was also caught off guard by some of the film's twists, which seemed overly melodramatic at times.

Mimikyu, however, found herself genuinely squeamish throughout the film. The brutality of some scenes made her feel uneasy, and she couldn't shake the discomfort they left behind. While she appreciated the dark, twisted elements of the plot, the graphic content was a bit much for her, leaving her feeling more repulsed than intrigued at certain points.

Sweet, on the other hand, appreciated the aesthetic side of Saltburn, praising the cinematography and the production design. The rich, opulent mansion and the meticulous visual storytelling helped to elevate the film's critique of privilege and social media superficiality. He felt that while the film's technical aspects were strong, the narrative and character development were lacking in some areas. Sweet found himself longing for a deeper exploration of the characters' inner lives, especially Ollie's motivations, which were only partially explored.

At the end of the day, Saltburn is an ambitious, darkly comedic film that forces viewers to grapple with uncomfortable truths about societal norms, ambition, and the desire for status. While the performances and production values are outstanding, some of the pacing issues and narrative choices may leave some viewers feeling disconnected. For us, Saltburn lands at a 7/10-it's a film worth watching for its dark humor and provocative themes, but it may not resonate with everyone in the long run.