This post is part of my movie-a-day challenge in which I will watch a film every day for 365 days. Today is Day 59. You can see all the posts for this challenge HERE. To see the original Movie-a-Day Challenge post, click HERE.

Hey friends! 🌟 So, I just watched Emerald Fennell’s 2023 film, ‘Saltburn,’ and oh boy, do I have thoughts! This flick has been getting a lot of buzz lately so I was pretty hyped going in. 🤯 So let’s chat about this quirky, oddball masterpiece that’s left me both baffled and totally bewitched.

First off, the story follows this working class bloke named Oliver (Barry Keoghan) who gets accepted to a fancy Oxford college on a scholarship. He’s the classic fish-out-of-water, sticking out among the posh crowd like a sore thumb. But then he meets this rich pretty boy aristocrat named Felix (Jacob Elordi) and with a life that’s like something out of a fantasy novel – or maybe a fever dream? 😅 — and they become besties, leading Oliver to get invited to Felix’s family’s giant mansion for the summer break.

So, our boy Oliver is whisked away to this grand estate, Saltburn, and let me tell you, it’s like stepping into a carnival of aristocracy. Of course, Oliver is super out of his element hanging with the upper crust Catton family. Felix’s relatives are all classic eccentric aristocrats – booze-soaked mum, mad dad, nymphomaniac sister and an American cousin who’s actually English/Nigerian/Swiss, played by Archie Madekwe.

At first, Oliver struggles to fit in with their lavish lifestyle and vaguely sinister vibe. But he eventually seems to get the hang of things and starts relishing being part of their world.

That is until some dark secrets get unearthed and everything goes bonkers! I won’t spoil any deets but let’s just say the twists come hard and fast in the last half of this movie. 😱 Parts of it felt almost campy with how insane it gets. I was living for all the drama tbh! The ending especially is totally wild and off the walls. My jaw was on the floor. 😮

The vibe of ‘Saltburn‘ is like a mixtape of ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley,’ ‘Wild Things,’ and ‘The Riot Club,’ but with its own unique flavor. It’s funny, sometimes unintentionally so, like that scene where Oliver drinks bathwater – I mean, come on, that’s comedy gold right there! 😂 Fennell balances the rich-folk nastiness with a human touch, especially with Felix, who’s more than just a pretty (and wealthy) face.

Now, the acting – oh la la! Barry Keoghan absolutely kills it, especially in that nude dance scene. Trust me, it’s a scene you won’t forget anytime soon. Jacob Elordi charms the socks off with his rich-boy drawl, and Rosamund Pike? She’s simply ageless and brings depth to her character, Elspeth.

But here’s the thing – the third act is a wild ride of disbelief suspension. Elspeth’s motives are as clear as mud, and the butler, who’s like a human CCTV camera, somehow misses all the red flags. The film dances on the edge of fantasy, making you question everything you thought you knew.

Emerald Fennell, hats off to you! ‘Saltburn‘ is a twisted tale of obsession, dark humor, and excess. Visually the movie looked great at least. Major props to Emerald Fennell for nailing the fancy aristocratic aesthetic with the costumes, sets, cinematography etc. I was drooling over the fancy country manor home! 🤤 And that stunning ocean cliff backdrop? Beyond gorgeous. Oh, and Fennell’s writing is sharp as a tack; there’s a witty zinger in almost every scene.

My only niggle is that the characters could’ve been developed a little more deeply. They came off a bit one-dimensional at times. Like Felix for instance – he’s just portrayed as a typical posh pretty boy without much complexity. And Oliver’s motivations were hard to grasp…is he an innocent victim or sly manipulator?? The unclear characterizations made it hard for me to fully connect at times.

Don’t get me wrong though, the cast all acted their butts off, especially Rosamund Pike! Girl is a legend. It was more an issue with the way the roles were written.

Watching ‘Saltburn‘ was like going to an art gallery where every painting is more bizarre and captivating than the last. It’s a film that’s both a head-scratcher and a heart-racer. It’s not perfect, but it’s a cinematic experience that’s as unforgettable as it is unclassifiable.

Catch ya tomorrow,
Roger