Irish actor Barry Keoghan has a mighty impressive filmography already, for someone so young. Keoghan is best known for Marvel’s Eternals and last year’s The Banshees of Inisherin, but he has proven to be capable to playing an abundance of other roles, flexing his acting muscles in new and interesting ways. Keoghan is at it again in filmmaker Emerald Fennell’s second feature film, Saltburn. Combining Fennell’s writing and direction with Keoghan’s acting abilities is a match made in heaven and just the mere sound of it makes the film all the more enticing, even before we start talking about the plot.
Fennell previously made Promising Young Woman, which was a cautionary tale for young women about the predatory nature of men and what men are willing to do to get the women they want. Saltburn, her latest film, is also a cautionary tale but this time it is more about the elitists of England and how the wealthy should be wary of who they invite into their homes. Saltburn is the name of the manor where the Catton family reside. Jacob Elordi plays Felix, the son of Lady Elsbeth and Sir James Catton, both played with flair by Rosamund Pike and Richard E. Grant. The casting alone gives it a very prestigious and British feel, and seeing these characters come alive in their home is enough to sell the film in itself. Saltburn, the manor, is like a character too.
Saltburn has a lot of roots in British values and traditions as the Catton family hold large parties and eat like they’re royalty. This is balanced with the colourful costumes and the neon drenched parties to give the film a more modern edge. It is set primarily in 2006, but it somehow feels very relevant and timely. Felix and Keoghan’s character, Oliver, both attend Oxford University where they meet and become quick friends. The start of their friendship is bright, full of hope and life as any friendship at their ages are like. Soon cracks begin to form, lies are told and one of them becomes manipulative, almost parasitic in behaviour, which helps to progress the story.
The supporting characters, from Alison Oliver as Felix’s sister to Archie Medekwe as Felix’s cousin, all have important roles to play in the story and the film explores their flaws, their desires and how important they are to Felix. Felix is the centre of this family, holding everyone together, and soon this family does end up falling in on itself, in a way which I will not spoil but it is when this happens where the film begins becoming more intriguing and mysterious. Before then the film enjoys a more light-hearted tone, but then the shift drastically changes into a more gothic thriller.
Saltburn as a film holds a lot of secrets and foreboding, which only becomes revealing after the credits roll and instantly demands a re-watch. It is really entertaining, with some really clever and interesting camera work too integrated into the story. There’s a lot of reflective surfaces, further proving the themes of each character exploring their inner self. There is a lot of sexual nature too, some of which will not be for everyone, but this only highlights the modern and youthfulness of the story and characters. Everything has a purpose in Saltburn and you will be as immersed into the halls of the manor as much as Oliver has.
★★★★☆
4/5
Final Verdict:
Saltburn is a film that lingers on the mind after viewing it. I will also admit that Saltburn is a bit of an acquired taste, a marmite film so to speak. There’s a lot of subtext and allegory for elitism and how people manipulate others in order to get what they want. Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi are both mesmerising in their roles as Oliver and Felix. By the end of the film, Saltburn becomes a cautionary tale about how parasitic people can be and it shows the dark and somewhat sinister side of human nature. Saltburn is a film that can be felt as well as seen.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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