A polarising adventure into the dark, gothic and glamorous depths of wealth, where monsters prey on your worth from right under your nose, camouflaged in a guise that presents you as one of their own, "Saltburn" is a deliciously depraved exploration of power and class, and a beautifully twisted folklore-esque tale that picks apart the very foundation of consumerism, flipping it on its head to devour the rich by their own methods.
I cannot tell you enough how morbidly marvellous and darkly hilarious it was to witness consumers being consumed. "You reap what you sow," as they say. Well, let's be honest, that saying is only really relevant to the lower half of the class scale. When do the rich deal with the consequences of their actions?
Threat not my dry darlings, as "Saltburn" is the escape we needed to experience such an extravagant thing unfold before our very eyes. While it may not be the real thing, Emmerald Fennel has invited us into the grounds of "Saltburn," for a party we'll never forget, offering viewers an opportunity to get up close and personal with a diabolically rich family, before the fun really gets underway. So get your popcorn out, and pick one of the many windows in the mansion to watch the happy horrors unfold.
How can a film be so disgustingly morbid yet so god damn sexy? There were ample scenes that had me questioning my sexuality, so much, I simply decided I'll take everybody back to my room. Rosamund. Jacob. Alison. Barry. Archie.
The gothic aesthetics, from the mansion to the moody lighting, is gorgoues. The neon infused nighttime allure of Saltburn's party life felt so lived in I could smell the sick, sweat and booze adorning the perfectly mowed lawn. The sun-soaked summery vibes had me strawn across my sofa stark naked as if I were Oliver Quick posing nude for a magazine showcasing my new mansion - and my big juicy balls. Then there's the cast themselves, who all looked like they wanted to rip Barry's clothes off. Everybody wanted a piece of him. To consume him. Hehehe. But Ollie had other plans, and it turns out his appetite was far greater than the sharks he was swimming with. Just writing this now and I can feel myself getting all choked up.
Like is it getting hot in here...
If I wasn't turned on at the sexy shenanigans, or laughing at the twisted games afoot, I was gagging on hairballs from my latest thirst quenching foray into the pube infested milky waters of Felix's bath juice.
The entire cast is perfection. Archie is slowly but surely making his way up my list of most interesting up and coming actors to watch. Farleigh was a character I enjoyed far more than I should have. Bitchy, jealous, and constantly making things worse for himself and the Catton's. Elordi was on form, not only with his spot on English accent, but the way he held himself in such a role. Felix, dare I say, is perhaps the most likeable of the characters. A deeply flawed rich kid who lacks affection from his family, so he puts that into others. He just wants to be loved. A spoilt brat, who actually has a heart of gold. Alison Oliver had me hanging off of every word she uttered. Beguiling, broken, and often outspoken. Her performance was quietly charged, and it was magnificent and heartbreaking to watch unfold. These kids were a product of their environment, and were as much a victim to wealth as they were to Olly. It doesn't make them any more likeable, but it does make them more relatable.
I've been a Barry fan since before Chernobyl, before anybody even knew his name, when he was getting small bit parts in Irish thrillers like 71 and Trespass Against Us. Anyway, the point is, I said to myself, this Kid is going to go far, and then just a few years down the line, I saw him in Dunkirk, American Animals and Killing Of A Sacred Deer, which reaffirmed him as a talent to look out for. Then Chernobyl, Calm With Horses, The Green Knight... his choice in roles just getting better and better, as have his performances, leading all the way up to this moment here, with Saltburn, his best performance of the bunch.
He puts everything on display here, and no I don't just mean his buttocks. He can play the meek and downtrodden with subtle nuance and quiet devastation. He can play a sexy sleaze with verve and composure. He can be intimidating. Scary. Creepy. Strange. Friendly. He's truly a chameleon, changing colors as and when needed to blend in, yet stand out.
A modern day, Gen Z retelling of The Talented Mr. Ripley, that isn't afraid to get dark, dirty and darn right horny. What's not to love?
9/10
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