Directed and produced by Emerald Fennell, Saltburn is a black comedy, drama, and psychological thriller film. It stars Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, Alison Oliver, Archie Madekwe, Paul Rhys, and more.

Barry Keoghan portrays Oliver Quick, an Oxford University student who does really well in class but struggles to fit in socially. While he’s studying hard, everyone else is partying hard. Amongst the crowd, he notices Felix Catton, played by Jacob Elordi, a very popular student, especially with the ladies, and becomes fascinated by him. After offering to loan Felix his bicycle so he doesn’t miss class, Oliver is invited to join him and his friends for drinks. After graduation, Felix offers Oliver to come stay with him and his family at their rich and enormous estate, known as Saltburn.

One word to best describe this film is simply “bizarre.” The sex scenes will be very off-putting to many, but the story will keep them drawn in. Barry Keoghan relishes in his role as Oliver Quick, which feels like a role made specifically for him. Oliver shows a lot of character development from start to finish. It is odd, however, that he goes from a socially awkward student lacking confidence to being able to seduce almost anyone he fancies. The film shows how he’s influenced by those around him, but doesn’t give a lot of context on why he is the way he is.

Jacob Elordi portrays Felix Catton as someone who’s desired by many, but none more than Oliver. Throughout the film, Oliver develops an unhealthy obsession with him, often spying on him during his intimate moments alone or having casual sex with girls, making him jealous. He even goes as far as enjoying the bathwater after Felix has left the tub, and even though Oliver still gets intimate with others, it’s Felix he desires the most.

Oliver Quick, as a character, is interesting, bizarre, and above all, unpredictable, mixing them all to create something truly unique, and not one to be forgotten anytime soon, for better or for worse. His strange fetishes and how far he’s willing to go really show his dark and twisted side, especially one scene in particular with him going down on someone during ‘that time of the month.’ As weird as Oliver Quick is, Barry Keoghan puts in an unforgettable performance, especially during a scene where he dances to the somewhat appropriately titled song, “Murder on the Dancefloor” by Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

While Barry Keoghan takes centre stage throughout the movie, other characters also play their parts in this wild and outlandish story. The other members of the Catton family include his parents, Elsbeth and Sir James, played by Rosamund Pike and Richard E. Grant respectively, his sister Venetia, played by Alison Oliver, cousin Farleigh Start, played by Archie Madekwe, and Duncan, the stern and uptight butler played by Paul Rhys. They all have their own strange quirks that play off really well with Oliver, bringing out the comedic side of the film.

The majority of the film is set in the fictional estate of Saltburn, which was filmed at the Drayton House in Northamptonshire. First built in 1328, the large and beautiful mansion sits amongst roughly 200 acres of land, and surprisingly, has never been used in film before Saltburn. The Drayton House and its surrounding land provide a fresh new location with gorgeous scenery and set pieces that perfectly compliment the grim story of Saltburn, which could very well be the first and last film ever shot there.

Other movies have tried to push the envelope with bizarre stories, outlandish characters, and shocking scenes, but not many have achieved it in the way Saltburn has. It’s definitely not a film for everyone, but the story will certainly draw audiences in. It features a mix of dark comedy and psychological drama, full of lust, laughs, lies, and deceit.

Oliver’s motives could do with more explanation, but Barry Keoghan’s performance is what really steals the show, even though the movie is centred around him. For those who are curious, Saltburn is a dark and twisted story that will shock you and make you feel uneasy, while also keeping you drawn in to see what happens next.

Written by: Sammy Hanson