What Saltburn lacks in plot, it makes up for in the inventive cinematic shots.
Saltburn has reached heights of popularity across Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok for being one of the most eclectic and disturbing films of 2023. Released in theaters on November 22, the movie quickly gained attention from viewers and has continued to stay relevant well into the new year. With a combination of stunning cinematography and dark mystery, the movie is definitely unique.
The plot is based around two characters with strong, yet opposing personalities. Felix (Jacob Eldori) is a rich and popular Oxford student. He is approached by Oliver (Barry Keoghan), who then befriends him. The majority of the plot surrounds the complex relationship between these two characters. While the viewers are primarily focused on Oliver and his stability, we later find out that Felix is at the core of Oliver’s romantic desires – to the point of an unhinged obsession.
The movie takes a turn after Oliver is invited to Saltburn, Felix’s massive family estate. Here, we are introduced to new characters, particularly Felix’s cheeky and pretentious family (the Catton’s). The acting is pristine, and viewers are wrapped up in the tension of Oliver’s interactions with each of the members.
He is slowly tangled up in Saltburn, despite only knowing Felix for a few weeks. He entraps the most vulnerable characters, such as Elsbeth (Felix’s mother) and Venetia (Felix’s sister). Both seem to be easily manipulated by Oliver’s odd, yet inviting charisma. Oliver goes as far as hooking up with Venetia, in an attempt to perhaps weaken her frigidity. As we find out near the end of the film, his methods were more than effective.
Once Felix finds out that Oliver lied about his family, saying they were addicts and the death of his father, the film switches gears: Oliver’s obsession turns into desperation. He kills Felix, and one by one, each of the Catton’s die off, hence leaving Oliver as the heir to Saltburn. The ending of the film confirms that Oliver had been plotting against Felix’s family from the start. Keoghan embodies this character exceptionally well, even improvising some infamous scenes that have taken over social media.
I watched the film over winter break with a friend and neither of us had any idea what to expect going in. Unfortunately, when it came to the actual plot of the film, both of us were severely underwhelmed. Saltburn creates such a whimsical and intense atmosphere, such that the whole time both of us were expecting a plot twist, or a climax. We were ultimately disappointed. The movie is far too vague for a viewer to really connect the dots. Some have argued that this is part of the charm, but I disagree. The ending was predictable, and a letdown.
However, the cinematography, aesthetics, and acting were all outstanding. Oliver’s birthday party scene was perhaps my favourite throughout the film, with a glittery and psychedelic experience. The colors combined with the music and tension of Felix’s anger were put together beautifully. What Saltburn lacks in plot, it makes up for in the inventive cinematic shots.
Although we went in prepared with plenty of warnings of the disturbing scenes that plagued this movie, we still did not expect what we were going to watch. After viewing Ari Aster’s Midsommar, I was confident in the fact that nothing could disturb me to the same degree. I found myself to be correct. Saltburn felt more like a psychological thriller, with sporadic moments of uncomfortable and overly sexualized scenes.
I may have been able to appreciate the value of these scenes if they had a contribution to the plot, but they felt random and thrown in places where they were not required. To spare any gory details, Saltburn could reach the same conclusion without these unnecessarily disturbing moments. That being said, Oliver is at the center of each of these scenes, and they help to explain his obsession with Felix and his family. Truly, these scenes in the film contributed more to Oliver’s character versus the movie itself.
Saltburn contains some beautiful shots, atypical character portrayal, and a fairly stellar soundtrack. The issue is, these aspects lead nowhere. If you watched this movie for purely entertainment purposes, you may feel fulfilled. However, if you’re looking for a film with cohesive plot points, you will surely find yourself underwhelmed, and disappointed.
