“Saltburn” is a strong movie as it recognizes all six elements of theatre: plot, music, diction, thought, spectacle, and theme. “Saltburn” is well-rounded and is credited to be complete in its elements. As history has shown a movie has to enhance, maintain, and clearly show all six elements of theatre to be a hit. When a show lacks in one of the elements then it lacks in credibility. Luckily, “Saltburn” acknowledged all of these even though confusion will take over the audience until the last 5 minutes of the show.
“Saltburn” has become popular among different social media networks specifically Tik-Tok. Many videos have been posted with the #saltburnreaction tag. The new movie came out in theatres on Nov. 17, 2023 written by Emerald Fennell. The cast consists of Jacob Elordi, Barry Keoghan, and Richard E. Grant. With these famous actors, the movie got a lot of attention. Yet, there is very little revealing of what happens in the movie. The movie’s trailer does not reveal any slight hint to what the show is about. Even though many videos have been posted, no one is giving viewers any insight. If they do, there is a spoiler warning. The purpose of the movie is strategic, the viewer is supposed to go into the movie having no background knowledge of what is about to happen. They are supposed to leave shocked and trust me you will.
“Saltburn” starts by introducing us to students who attend Oxford University in England. Felix and Oliver, nicknamed Olie become friends after a run-in with each other. Felix is very popular, attractive, and wealthy, Olie is the opposite. But, Felix takes pity on Olie and ends up enjoying their friendship as it becomes more genuine. We learn to feel sympathy for Olie when his father dies, even though he is an outcast. When leaving university for the summer, Felix offers Olie to come spend the summer in his castle in Saltburn. This is so Olie will not have to go back to his nasty house as an only child with a drug-addicted mother grieving his deadbeat dad. The two arrive at Saltburn and Olie is introduced to Felix’s family, they all welcome him warmly and we can see that Olie is beginning to feel cared for. The summer days go by as they spend time by the pool, playing tennis, and eating extravagant food. Olie starts developing a creepy attraction towards Felix. Even so far to drink his bathwater and wear his underwear. All seems relatively normal until Felix answers a call from Olie’s mom
The movie shifts revealing all the lies that have been told. Felix takes Oliver to his mother’s house for his birthday to redeem their relationship out of the kindness of his heart. When they arrive Felix is pleasantly surprised that Oliver’s house is nice with a caring mother greeting them at the door. Mouths of the audience drop when Oliver’s dad appears on screen, the one that had supposedly died from being a drunk. Not only has Oliver lied about his parents, but he also has three sisters and is not on scholarship at Oxford. Felix is furious and drives the two back to Saltburn in a rage. This changed the dynamic of their friendship, Oliver was asked to leave the castle after the birthday party Felix’s family was throwing for him. Your mouth may have been able to close after that scene but the morning after the party would have dropped it again.
Felix is found dead in the maze outside of his house. The family is suffering but does not know how to deal with this loss. At Felix’s funeral, Oliver fornicates on top of his grave, crying. Felix’s sister commits suicide and his best friend leaves the country. Yet, Oliver, the stranger that Felix’s family does not know the truth about, stays at Saltburn until months go by and he is kicked out.
Years have passed now, Oliver is a grown man and Felix’s dad has passed. Elizabeth, Felix’s mom ran into Oliver at a coffee shop. After rehashing their lives Elizabeth invites Oliver to come stay at Saltburn as it is too lonely for her. Oliver stays at the castle until Elizabeth gets old and is on life support.
The movie then cuts to Oliver confessing the truth to dying Elizabeth. This scene left my mouth on the ground until I got home. Oliver was said to be in love with Felix was wanted to live the life he had but would never obtain that. Oliver gives us insight into the past years. The interaction that sparked the friendship between Oliver and Felix was intentional, Oliver had given Felix a flat tire on his bike. Oliver had lied about his dad dying to gain Felix’s sympathy. Oliver poisoned Felix the night he died. Oliver left the razor blades next to Felix’s sister as encouragement. Every plot twist and unfortunate thing that had happened in the movie Oliver set up without the audience knowing. Oliver then kills Elizabeth who had given Oliver the castle in her will.
The movie ends with Oliver dancing naked around the castle with no remorse. He got what he wanted. He hated Felix, he hated the whole family, and he just wanted their lives.
Of the six elements of theatre this movie hits, I believe that thought is the best. You are thinking throughout the entire movie about how these deaths kept occuring. Yet, Oliver being psycho never once will cross your mind. Afterward, you will be left feeling like you know nothing about the movie. You will leave the theatre asking yourself, what did I just watch? The best question a show can leave you with relative to thought.
The acting is fantastic. Seeing Jacob Elordi in multiple roles this year feels right. He is an amazing actor whose characters gain your love. His costar Barry Keoghan, in my opinion, excelled the most in the movie. It is easy to play a character written in a way that everyone is supposed to love them. Keoghan plays a character that makes you hate him so well, he does it flawlessly.
All in all, you need to go watch “Saltburn”. Let yourself be shocked and creeped out by what is going to happen. It slayed.
