There’s been plenty of talk about writer/director Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn  since it hit the film festival circuit in August 2023. And I’ve finally given in and watched the comedy/drama/thriller. A film that turned out to be an equally delightful and shocking experience. One that follows Oliver (Barry Keoghan), an Oxford University student who becomes obsessed with his classmate, the charismatic and aristocratic Felix (Jacob Elordi). 

Also starring Rosamund Pike, Archie Madekwe and Carey Mulligan, things soon take quite the unexpected turn once Felix invites Oliver to his eccentric family’s vast estate for an unforgettable summer.

It’s the dialogue and performances that delighted me most, especially all the lines delivered to perfection by Mulligan and Pike’s characters. As for the more shocking aspects, let’s just say it has to do with two specific moments that reveal the extent of Oliver’s unsettling obsession and how that manifests.

In terms of my experience of the story, I had the most fun before the dark turn, which wasn’t unexpected considering how I found myself waiting for the other shoe to drop for much of the film. The general gist of what Saltburn is about and how aspects of the story unfold may not be new, but the two most shocking events and the super wonderful dialogue are reason enough to see it for yourself. 

Last but not least, Saltburn features a soundtrack of what seemed to be largely hit British songs of the noughties. I say give Saltburn a chance if you’re curious and for all the guaranteed giggles courtesy of the dialogue, particularly once Oliver arrives at Felix’s family estate. 

Happy Film Loving, 

G

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