SALTBURN (2023) – Twisted, outlandish, and shocking … I loved it!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2

The plot of Saltburn centers around the odd relationship between two contrasting Oxford University students. Oliver Quick is awkward, and introverted but manages to build a bonding friendship with Felix who is super rich and super popular. The Oxford setting soon gives way to the sprawling English countryside as Felix invites Oliver to spend summer at his home, a grand old English castle, named Saltburn. Here we are introduced to the dysfunctional and eccentric family members. It’s like the Addam’s family or the Munsters except here they are all human beings and not vampires or monsters. We get to witness the crazy lifestyle and bizarre behaviour of the so called super rich through the eyes of the innocuous eyes of Oliver. But things of course are not exactly what they seem to be and as the story progresses, our perception and sense of what’s actually going on begin to change.
One of the constant delights of watching Saltburn is its unpredictability. Added to that is the film’s cast which was perfect. Barry Keoghan who played a similarly timid supporting character in The Banshees of Inisherin has a much bigger role this time. His Oliver is a complex character and to Barry’s credit, he manages to unnerve us convincingly with many bizarre and often outrageous behaviour. Some may condemn the film was deliberately being gratuitous, but I see them as essential elements in defining its main character. Jacob Elordi whom we recently saw as Elvis in Priscilla looked and behaves so differently here, I failed to recognise him until after I checked. His Elvis in Priscilla was so low key and forgettable compared to the energetic and charismatic Felix here. We can understand why he is so popular and why Oliver is attracted to him and his lifestyle. Rosamund Pike and Richard E Grant also seem to be enjoying themselves playing the over the top aristocrats while delivering some outrageously British sense of humour. Another actor who was outstanding here was Archie Madekwe playing the role of Farleigh, the mixed blood nephew who also seems to hang around Saltburn. Archie was excellent as gamer turned professional racer in Gran Turismo. Here he transform himself into a very different sort of character demonstrating his acting range. Perhaps the only disappointment was Carey Mulligan who was completely wasted in her bit part role of another one of Saltburn’s long staying guests. Her character was too insignificant to make any impact.
Director Emerald Fennell must be applauded for her work of art her. Apart from bringing out the best from her cast, her movie also looks stunningly beautiful. The choice to use the rare boxy 4:3 aspect ratio gave the film a unique look. The focus and attention to the acting is inevitable with the smaller screen space and Emerald bathed the film with beautiful colour and brightness, heightening the beauty of the sets and surroundings. With her last movie, Promising Young Woman and now Saltburn, writer / director Emerald is proving herself to be a formidable director for quirky and artistic movies. Definitely a name to look out for from British cinema.