Saltburn ★★★

Oliver (Barry Keoghan) is a student at Oxford University. His classmates are of direct lineage from the rich and powerful whereas he attends university on scholarship. We’re introduced to Oliver as he arrives on campus. From his dorm room, he looks out the window and sees Felix (Jacob Elordi) surrounded by classmates and a gaggle of girls. One woman is wearing Juicy Couture sweatpants that many would fixate on, but not Oliver. He is entranced by Felix and pays no mind to the attractive women surrounding Felix other than to note that Felix is desirable. Director Emerald Fennell uses this scene early in Saltburn to characterize Oliver and Felix. Oliver, the fish out of water, awkward, less handsome, voyeur in his dorm room. Felix, comfortable as any wealthy or powerful man is, charismatic, handsome, a public spectacle. To be friends with Felix would make Oliver no longer seem an outsider as well as draw in women’s attention. Oliver immediately notices the value in forming a friendship with Felix and begins to pursue Felix, not unlike a man courting a woman.

Once the two meet, they become friends and Felix begins to take Oliver under his wing, including Oliver with his friends and inviting him to parties. Felix’s social standing is unparalleled and his family is incredibly wealthy. Nonetheless, Felix seems well-adjusted. Fennell portrays their friendship as genuine, and not motivated by Felix feeling as if he were performing an act of charity. When Oliver is notified late in the school year that his father has died, Felix is compassionate to Oliver. If this tragedy were to happen to Felix, Felix would postpone exams in order to grieve but Oliver does not believe he can introduce any risk to his academic standing. Since Oliver is not close to his mother and is stunned by his father’s death, Felix invites Oliver to stay with his family at their sprawling estate, Saltburn, for the summer.

When Oliver arrives at Saltburn, Fennell quickly contrasts Felix’s way of life in a castle with staff to attend to any needs with what Oliver is used to. Oliver commits a few faux pas, but Felix is able to cover for his friend. Fennell portrays Felix’s family as out-of-touch and bizarre due to the distance their wealth keeps them from needing to follow any social norms. At first, Oliver is distraught by Felix’s family but quickly discovers he can manipulate them with his wit. Saltburn is very much a critique of the über wealthy that unfolds as Oliver begins to pick and pull Felix’s family apart.

Saltburn relishes in black comedy and it’s clear that the cast and crew enjoyed themselves while filming. The film relishes in its insanity and camera flourishes, most notably with shots that are symmetrical horizontally. Saltburn is an uneasy film to watch for its bluntness and irreverent tone towards just about everything, especially death. Barry Keoghan was born to play the role of Oliver; however, he’s also played the same role in other films. Saltburn allows Keoghan to let loose though the effect is muted if you’re familiar with Keoghan’s acting.

Drawing from films such as The Talented Mr. Ripley and Teorema, Saltburn wears its inspirations on its sleeve while taking it up a notch. Provocation is a strong suit of Emerald Fennell and she does not disappoint. Though Saltburn is less cohesive than her stunning debut Promising Young Woman, the film is clearly cut from the same cloth and gives us a view into what we can expect from the director moving forward. Its frame story structure provides exposition and is perhaps an attempt to make the film more palatable to audiences, but Saltburn was never going to have mainstream appeal. It’s far too brash, and is unashamed. As it has to be. Saltburn plays out as the film equivalent of a smutty gag gift between close friends – hilarious, yet perverse for those not in on the joke.