I honestly think a few people are too caught up in the disgust to notice how sincerely the "shock" scenes are delivered, because the eroticism is very lovingly captured when you look past your own reactions to what you're seeing. I'd say they're pretty defining moments for our weird little sociopath, peak voyeuristic desire for someone he wanted but could never actually have; Grave scene hit like the perfect mix between an act of love and hate for me.
i completely disagree films are supposed to make us feel a certain way so it doesn’t really make sense to me that for us to understand the film we have to push away our feelings and reactions
Feel that you missed the mark here. Definitely not an eat the rich movie at all. Oliver comes from decent wealth himself. It's about obsession and how when Oliver can't have the object of that obsession, he settles for everything else tied to him he can possibly get.
@@jamiegreenberg8476it’s still a clear satire of wealth and focuses around all of them being picked off one by one. Even if Oliver is middle class, it’s still very centered on extreme wealth. “Eat the rich” doesn’t have to be about extremely impoverished people getting revenge. Regardless, it just didn’t feel like it had anything to say. It was fun to watch and it looked cool but that’s all I can say about it
I thought it was an amazing movie ! The acting was top notch and I felt it explored very complicated human emotions. Ultimately we don’t really get a backstory or a “why” for Oliver. But I don’t think we need one. Just take the story for what it is and enjoy the ride
Saltburn was a low-rent, Gen-Z TikTok version of Talented Mr. Ripley. It's like they were making an entire film for the future meme-value. It tried to be a lot of different things (comedy, thriller, satire) and fell short on all fronts. The individual performances were good, but the lack of character development left me very underwhelmed.
i absolutely love the use of colour in saltburn, the use of red being shown suddenly is so SO CLEVER people keep saying its an eat the rich film but its not- it's a film about deep obesssion
True! Like eat the rich vibe is okay but if that were the case then he would serially “eat” and kill rich families forever, instead his obsession with richness and specifically Saltburn is what pushes him.
@@loganlocke9906i disagree on it being an eat the rich film. I see it as a critique on obsessing with wealth and class. Ollie is well off, yet he dedicates his life to deliberately taking down the wealthy. He doesnt do this to take down the 1%, but solely for his own gain. Its an obsession ive seen in real life, where people strive to attain status at any means even though it ultimately results in no positive in the world.
I saw this film at an advance screening at my university and MAN was it entertaining to witness those crazy scenes in a packed theatre full of college kids. there was also a security guy who had to stand near the exit the whole time making sure that no one used their phones, and watching him was pretty funny as well. if nothing else, seeing this movie surrounded by other people made it so much better.
I have to agree. I watched it in a bougie London cinema. Lots of people who had probably studied at similar places. I went to the rival to Oxford lol so guessed there would be more. It made me very uncomfortable tbh in those scenes. I made sounds of uncomfort.
My screen feom last night was packed and seeing everyone groan and scream in agony at certain scenes is ehat the communal experience of the theatre was made for.
I don’t see it as a “eat the rich “ movie. It even goes out of its way to show that the main character himself is also well to do. That’s he’s just doing this because he likes it.
I don’t think it was Oscar bait. I think it was going for that weird A24-style vibe - that indie film you say you like to look cool and unique. I just saw it, and I liked it by the end of it. It was mid up until turn last third. Great cast and soundtrack.
Yeah, I mean Fennell's first movie got a lot of Oscar nomination aside the fact that the movie imo was good, it's also because of the pandemic which gave the movie an easy route to get nominated. Both her and Carey Mulligan said that they weren't expecting Promising Young Woman to win any Oscars as the movie premiered at Sundance but then the pandemic change everything. So yeah I don't think it's Oscar bait
Honestly I think that the shocking scenes were REALLY in character for Oliver. He was always (or wanted to always) be in control yet with Felix, he wasn't. He manipulated him but was ultimately the one obsessed and at Felix's mercy to the point where even though HE is the reason Felix is dead, he still can't resist giving into his feelings for him. The grave scene really encapsulates how depraved he is where his want for power mixes with his want for Felix himself. Also, its worth noting that Oliver enjoyed Felix the most when he was being a vouyer of him, when Oliver was able to witness Felix being alone and then get to touch the aftermath (much like with the bath scene). He wants to be in control of the others but the grave scene still feels like a submission to Felix
Although I didn’t like the movie’s message I do think Oliver’s obsession was captured well. I think most of us spent at least some part of our adolescence envious of a peer who had a picture perfect life. Most of us learn to outgrow that envy but Oliver’s festered into a dark sexual obsession. Where the movie missed the mark though was rewarding Oliver for all of his predatory behavior - an extremely yikes message to deliver gen Z audiences
@Sambouajram11 I didn't find Oliver envious. He was a tactician who knows with certainty what he wants and that he would get it. He was working on this well before attending Oxford - Felix and his family were simply the unfortunate ones that owned the Saltburn estate. Most conquerors build empires through a yern for absolute power; Oliver was a conqueror. Felix was the conduit of that power Oliver is infatuated with, and he will do anything to consume it (the bath tub). Was it love for Felix? No. The grave scene to me was Oliver declaring a victory or some sort of dominance. He ****ed Felix into the ground.
@Sambouajram11 Honestly, this might be seen as corny, but a more satisfying ending would have been Farleigh being left the estate, eliminating Oliver from being part of it all. Yeah, it's unrealistic, BUT we know that they could never cut ties with Farleigh(though they say they try to, even in the end), and they're rich. They'd always try to keep it all in the family. Honestly, I just wanted to see that to see how Oliver would react in a situation like that. If it would "wake him up" or he'd do what he always does
@@Sambouajram11 I don't think we're meant to side with Oliver, but i also don't believe every movie should have a "message". In any case, audiences should be critical enough to differentiate between right and wrong without the movie explicitly telling them
The tub scene was a true WTF moment. The dirt scene, thanks to the tub and vampire scenes, I saw coming from a mile away. I was still really uncomfortable watching it, as was half my theater based on the amount of confused and uncomfortable laughter (and groans) going on. I wanted to cover my eyes with my hands…and peep through my splayed fingers. To quote Clerks II “I’m disgusted and repulsed and I can’t look away”
saw this at a film festival and the crowd was so into it, me included now i have rewatched and while i think it's twist doesn't work all that well, so many of it's scenes haven't left my head since i saw it and i feel so disgusted and uncomfortable watching it that for me i really like it
"i feel so disgusted and uncomfortable" Well that's exactly the same way i felt when watching Fennell's first movie so that's nice to hear about this lol
@FelixCattonSoupshe ain’t getting awards for a movie that’s so divisive sorry to break your bubble. Seems like half of the ppl thought it was trash and the other half thought it’s the next evolution of cinema 😂
@@tristan5569I think it’s because a lot of people mistake surface level aesthetics in a movie for quality. The soundtrack was great, the cinematography was excellent, the pacing was good, and there were a few shock scenes. That’s enough to win people over that just like to vibe with a movie, and if a movie does those things well enough, they’ll mistake it for a masterpiece. That’s what happened with this movie. Surface level stuff is great, fantastic even, but the script devolves into a somewhat jumbled mess near the last third.
@@nolanthedude I was gonna say the same thing, there are aspects of the movie that are near phenomenal, the performances were great, cinematography was as well, and the soundtrack I thought fit the movie well. However those in themselves do not make a masterpiece, at best a mediocre watch with built in collective reactions
@@nolanthedude Gotta agree with you. I quite liked it and was entertained (always better to be entertained than bored), but I think the story and themes needed to be tighter. Especially when thing s start to turn around on the story.
Just came out of Saltburn, and man…it was doing so so so good…if they’d ended after That Scene in the Dirt, I would’ve given it a 4/5, but then that last 25 minutes or so were so predictable and such a tonal shift that I dropped it down to a 3.5/5. That being said, it’s a lottttt better that PYW, with more rewatchability (except for that ending).
agreed about the ending. i assumed it was building to something much more powerful: someone loving and genuine getting a taste of wealth and then slowling shifting into someone more entitled and cold. instead the last few minutes absolutely unwound that and it felt really juvenile. like hahaha he was secretly this machiavellian psycho the whole time. like huh.
The plot twist ruined FUCKING EVERYTHING. You build and create this atmosphere and this aesthetic and this complicated, unpleasant and messy and fascinating character just to turn him into a moustache twirling villain...
"Trying too Hard" seems to be this movie's biggest flaw, which was the vibe I picked up from the trailer. Which is a shame, since the cast and crew are all very talented, but it just seems to be shocking for the sake of it.
Absolutely loved it. Loved the weirdness of the movie. Loved the awkward "artsy" vibe and dark moments. Loved the performances and "grossness" of the movie. Fantastic soundtrack and cinematography. Interesting characters. Solid dialogue. Mad ending. Almost like a Joker scene. It's a blast. It's one of the most unique movies I've seen in a cinema in a long time. It's fearless moviemaking and performance.
And don't forget the British humour. Hilarious and witty from start to finish. I think we're all sick of predictable Hollywood. It was refreshing to see a movie as daring and original as this in the cinema. Loved it!
I feel like some of the humour will work better with British audiences. I’ll admit it’s nowhere near as clever as it wants us to believe but it’s so much fun and I think it’s a must see. Stupid fun.
Yes! I’m not British but I grew up consuming a lot of British teen stuff like Skins, misfits, and in betweeners. It captured it all perfectly, it’s always super gay while being very straight. The idea of your friends also being your worst enemy
it suits the intimate scenes really well. Some memorable shots were entirely filled up with two peoples faces. it forces us into the closeness (and grossness) of the moment
@@-Roos97-there are many high “ceiling” shots and establishing shots that utilize the aspect ratio well, not to mention the many intimate shots with one or two characters. I don’t understand your argument tbh, respectfully
Honestly I would have a loved a spoiler section for this one. I know that’s not really your thing but I’m probably not gonna see this and would have loved to know specifically what scenes you didn’t like.
The uncomfortable scenes he was on about were (1) when Barry slurps up the remaining water from jacobs bath because Jacob had jerked off in the bath. (2) Barry eats a girl out when she’s on her period and they show SO much. (3) jacob dies and then Barry fucks his grave
I think it’s worth noting the 4:3 is the full frame for 35mm film so you are not cutting any image off, you are getting the full height, most movies in 16:9 cut the top and bottom off so this is opening the frame up rather than limiting it in, therefore it reveals the height of the rooms and the buildings, not using it as a tool for claustrophobia, it’s more of a throwback to pre-1950s films where the full frame was used
@@mrwhitemantv of course but that stretches the frame wider than the default rather than the 4:3 making the frame tighter than the default which is what he was suggesting in the video
@@jacobmacdonagh4070 with panavision you are still using the full frame and not cutting anything, you are capturing wider field of view horizontally and the same fov vertically
@@mrwhitemantv Yeah yeah I know I was just making a point that 4:3 isn't inherently claustrophobic and a lot of 2.39:1 films are anamorphic anymore and are just cropped from full frame
I disagree about the grave scene, I thought that was very well set up and very on brand for the character. This film has so many little details that are so easy to miss, for example in his Oxford tutorial, Ollie talks about Robert browning’s poem “my last duchess”, which you would have to study to understand how aptly it fits in here but the crux of it is that the narrator of the poem is admiring a portrait of a former lover of his, and it’s implied he killed her because she spoke to other men, etc. and he wanted her to himself, and only now she’s inanimate and nothing more than a painting is she in an acceptable form to him. Similarly, Ollie would rather Felix was dead than not have him, and only once Felix is dead does Ollie actually show him the love he wanted to show him when he was alive. The idea of essentially preserving beauty or moulding it into an acceptable form is very present throughout literature, for example in the Greek myth (and Shaw’s play) Pygmalion, which are essentially about moulding a woman to become acceptable to a man (also the plot of pretty woman). We see Ollie doing this with the sister, exercising control over her and essentially bending her to his will, forcing her to eat etc so it’s not as though the grave scene isn’t foreshadowed at all, in fact given Ollie’s character I don’t think it’s that shocking at all.
i loved it. it was visceral, disgusting and a unique expression of blurring the lines between hatred and love. i think the scene with the dirt was one of the most shocking yes, but jesus it sticks and you dont even know really how to respond. catharsis. it's one of the most unique movies i've ever seen, i've never seen anything like it before.
Only someone as privileged as Emerald Fennell could make a film about class disparity where the rich are the most sympathetic characters in the whole thinf
Did you miss the part where SPOILERS Oliver is revealed to not be poor at all, but come from an upper middle class background (his dad mentions how they vacation in Mykonos every summer).
there were probably upwards of 20 floppy dick shots in that final scene and I was quite shocked by the brashness of it lmaooo. Quite the fucking film indeed
I have to say, I’m not even going to watch your review. For as pretentious as you think the movie was, you sure are pretentious yourself. The first minute of this video is basically “I’m making this video because this movie is going to be popular and that’s the only reason why.” Why exactly should I continue watching ? - I just got back from watching this in a theater by myself and I absolutely loved it. So Anyway 🙄
Wow I really agree, it was hard for me to put a finger on what bothered me and you articulated it really well. I think most of all what threw me off is that there wasn't any coherent plotline, and the entire character of Oliver was incoherent. Like, his whole ordeal is that he's obsessed with Felix, but he's the first person he gets rid of? And for what? Since when was his goal was to gain control of the house? Especially when u consider that since the start it was ALWAYS abt getting closer to Felix. And I can understand the whole dominance thing he tried to achieve with the other members of the house, and that he felt uncomfortable in submission but with Felix he literally submitted himself to him, he was what it was about. So the entire escalation wasn't just 'unexpected', it was completely off brand. And after the aftermath of the party, it was very clear to me that Oliver was responsible and where everything was going, so the ending was super underwhelming. And the weirdness and pervertion only made sense to me in the bathtub scene, and it felt like there was so much missed potential there. The dirt scene could've made sense if the circumstances that lead to it made sense, but they don't. And the yard scene or even the Farghly scene just aren't necessary imo. I agree there's too much trying to be edgy and shocking and too little concrete characters and plots. Just didn't buy it and the end didn't impact me at all. Good soundtrack though.
I actually think the shocking scenes work really well in conveying the motivations of Oliver, as Venetia says in her final scene, Oliver is a moth who’s drawn to shiny things yet cannot help but put holes in everything he touches. The bathtub, vampire, and grave scenes show that Oliver isn’t just a sexually perverse freaky little man, he does these things because of his destructive and all-consuming infatuation. These scenes are a culmination of intense and misguided infatuation, self-loathing and hatred, a combination which was evidently extremely corrosive. Because of this, I also don’t feel as though the film was trying to be a quirky eat the rich film, he is so clearly obsessed with their world, he doesn’t want to destroy it he wants to live in it, and the family’s naïveté leads them to fall prey to Oliver. If they’d leaned more into the shocking scenes I think it would’ve misrepresented Oliver’s intentions and would’ve taken away from the sincerity and nuance of the motivations which guided them.
tbh yeah i think they didn't need to lean into the shocking scenes, they worked fine to represent the themes just like you said as they are. And I definitely see what they were trying to do with Oliver's character by the end of it; but man I came out of it so underwhelmed because despite seeing how Oliver's character was wrapped up I felt that there were so many things just left in the dust because of it. Was Oliver's deep desire rooted in Felix himself or the family's status? The mom character was so great at portraying the vapid nature of her lifestyle and the family's wealth; and it absolutely made play right into Oliver's plan at the end but I felt like they didn't do anything with that commentary on just how empty all that wealth is. If they wanted to just talk about how far obsession can go, they should've just stuck with that and cut out all that other commentary because it felt stuffed. But then they would be cutting out so much great work the actors did with their characters... idk there are so many moments where I feel like a movie is really good i just didn't understand it on the first watch but not this one. Everything else about it is great though and i still think its worth watching and dissecting
@@Oscar-kc5lu That's kinda true. She and Carey Mulligan once admit that Promising Young Woman was not a movie that was aiming for award seasons but pandemic changed everything which gave the movie an easy route to get nominated eventhough they weren't aiming at that
How interesting! I actually LOVED this - mostly every complaint I heard in this video I’d direct at Promising Young Woman. I remember leaving feeling so meh about it and as if it was a generalized mis mash of film mechanics that tried to accomplish too much and fell apart on a climax that I thought was disinteresting and contrived. This, for whatever reason, totally worked for me, however. Was thrilled the entire time
Yep same here, shocked when I saw it was the same director. This one was great, and PYW was one of the most disappointing movies of the year for me, as I'd heard so many great things.
This isn't really a spoiler but the "flashback to the thing that was ACTUALLY happening in the background throughout the whole movie" is so wack and forced in nearly* every film that has it
SPOILER WARNING (just in case other ppl click on the replies) It just turns out that Barry Keoghan’s character made it so that he and Jacob Elordi’s character would meet, become friends and eventually take out everyone in the bloodline to get the saltburn estate passed down to Keoghan himself. They show this near the end of the film as the big reveal after Elordi’s character dies “mysteriously”-he’s actually poisoned by Keoghan’s character. There’s a montage that goes back to the two meeting initially because Elordi’s bike broke down and Keoghan gives him a ride, but now it shows that Keoghan’s character put some shit in his wheel so it would break. The montage has other stuff like that but for everything that happens after being “all part of his plan”. I didn’t even dislike the movie really, it’s just this part that’s super lame and unnecessary
@@lukefr1234 ahhh, I appreciate the summary! Kinda reminds me of gone girl but it sounds like it was executed poorly? The ‘it was me the whole time’ has been exhausted lately. Might still check it out later on streaming services or somethin
Yes, I think this film might be best enjoyed by people who haven't yet seen so many other movies that have already used this device (esp those that did it a bit better, tbh).
Yeah I feel like it unintentionally backfired in that it took something away from the film, at least in my opinion. I prefer the idea that he finds himself at Saltburn as a result of a single lie and capitalises on it rather than the idea that he meticulously planned every aspect of it.
You captured exactly how I felt about this movie. A lot of potential, great performances all around, but a lack of identity that was a bit exhausting by the end. Perhaps a re-edit could turn this into a true suspense thriller.
I was hooked the entire time tbh, it was bizarre and one of the more disturbing movies I've ever seen but it 100% worked for me. I completely see why it won't work for others and it's certainly not a movie I'd feel comfortable recommending to others (or even admitting I've watched to others lol) but I don't think it needed to succeed on all the various layers you mentioned in order for it to be a good film.
this movie isn't eat the rich and i never got the impression that it was trying to be. It's about desire and obsession. I think if you go in expecting it to be a criticism of wealth you'll be disappointed, but that wasn't the point of the film
You’ve definitely earned a fan with this one. I’ve looked around for a video that is realistic and critical of this movie and you hit the nail on the head. This movie is so ranted and raved about and after watching I couldn’t see why. You summed up all of my feelings about this movie in 8 min. Thank you
I enjoyed this movie, until the ending. The ending really ruined it for me. They over-indulged in the “explanation” of it all, and it actually cheapened some of the more meaningful scenes in the film. Had they ended the film with Elsbeth on life support and then cut to Oliver’s dance at the end, there would have been enough breadcrumbs to lead the audience to the appropriate conclusion, but still leaving enough room for doubt and thought and theories about character motivations and what actually happened. I felt a little ripped off honestly. Spoon-feeding is not my thing.
Yeah it's like a gen z copy of that, I just wish it wasn't so similar. Like this movie just felt unoriginal in everything it did well and original in everything it did bad. Mr Ripley is the better movie imo
I really disagree with you here. I saw this film in advance as a fan of Promising Young Woman (I'll never forget the ending), and you're right about it being unpredictable. I thought that it was completely the opposite of what I was expecting, but I'm thrilled they did something so fascinating and unique in execution, even if it may seem filled to the brim at times. I kept on hearing your reasons for it not working for you and I just don't see them for myself, personally. It's not a masterpiece by any means, but I haven't been able to get this film out of my head since I've seen it and I thought the cinematography was gorgeous. The word I'd use to describe this movie is "evil".
Yeah, it has a really interesting and fun vibe toward the beginning, then gradually moves toward what I would call hideously creepy, then full on sickening malevolence towards the end. It very much worked for me, but it’s grotesque.
I love that a majority of the comments on this video actually love the film and have so many nuanced insights that outweigh this half-baked review. Like Emerald Fennell said, are you shocked, or are you just pretending to be shocked?
i thought the " shocking " scenes , namely the grave ad bathwater, were poetically beautiful. to be so tragically desperate, touch starved, deprived, driven to insanity. i thought they were amazing and it reminded me of the first time i read the grave scene from wuthering heights even
Already got a 7 pm showing coming up soon. Honestly the trailer is what sucked me in. Throwing in Bloc Party The Pioneers just gave a really cool, dreamy vibe. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't also going to see Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi
I just finished it a few hours ago and I loved it. Everything from acting to writing to cinematography etc. I was entertained in every moment. Walked into the movie completely blind, not even reading the synopsis or watching a trailer. Just went because I’m a fan of Barry keoghan. Which is probably why I enjoyed it as much as I did. The tub scene was a total wtf moment for me but kinda got me to expect more weirdness so like the vampire or dirt scene didn’t blow my mind but I still found it very creepy which was its intentions I believe. I personally liked the ending, even if it was spoon fed and not necessary but it didn’t ruin anything for me
I loved the trailers, especially the line describing it as a “gothic thriller dusted with candy-pop glitter.” I wanted that, and that’s exactly what I got and so much more. I can’t say I loved it, but it's a type of movie I've never seen before and might never see again, and I enjoyed that experience. I thought the reveal at the end was very satisfying
Interesting that you found it unpredictable. I pretty much called all the gross out scenes but I still enjoyed it cause I wanted them to happen. I liked it more as a film about manipulation than any sort of social commentary (whatever it had to say in that respect is weak for sure).
Not the point of the review by any means, but I still feel like it needs to be said...I really don't understand how anyone can watch PYW and, at any point, in any rewatch, come out of it thinking that it's "cheesy". You don't have to like it, and it's totally fair not to, but...CHEESY???
One of the best films I've seen this year. I left the theater in a daze, a delightful daze, but a daze nonetheless - not unlike how I left the theater after Natural Born Killers many many years ago. I haven't been truly shocked by a movie in years - and by golly, Saltburn did the trick. That being said. I knew from the trailer what I was getting. I've seen a lot of marketing over the years - it's easy to read between the lines. Some people thought this was a friendship movie, a Call Me by Your Name. WTF? How did they think that? Did they only watch the first half of the trailer? Regardless, I love decadence and salaciousness and crazy flawed characters and sumptuous cinematography. This was the movie for me. Also, the audience I saw it with was super fun. They laughed uproariously! And when they gasped, they gasped in sync. That was as much fun as the movie itself. Barry K is a freakin' revelation. Rosemand Pike, Jacob, all of them. And Poor dear Pamela.
I personally thought the strangeness worked, the imagery made it justified, the film was incredible and it was trying a little too hard but why shouldn’t it? I felt it was all earned and to be honest might be my favourite film of the year, I respect your opinion but I severely disagree
Not much of an original thought in this comment section coming from many who haven’t even seen the film. Though I see some of the flaws he sees, I don’t agree with his conclusions in a few cases. I love this movie. It’s fine he doesn’t. I think people should make up their minds rather than just quoting a critic as if it’s their own opinion, but whatever. I agree that people should go in knowing as little as possible and it is being edgy, but I don’t think the ending or the scene with “dirt” criticism. The “dirt” sequence is an escalation of the bathtubs scene. It’s absurd and ridiculous, but it’s supposed to be. I disagree with his thoughts on the films tone being inconsistent. I also found the ending very predictable if you’re paying attention to certain moments that very clearly telecast what’s to come. Also, if you know what other films inspired Fennel, it’s pretty much a spoiler. I do agree that Promising Young Woman is not as good on a second watch, but I found this movie soooo much better than that film. I don’t think this film will be worst on second watch. I bet you’ll catch what this guy didn’t. Either way, not everyone is going to enjoy this film. I just think some of these commenters on here should watch the movie for themselves and form their own opinion if they really cared to check it out. A movie being called “Oscar Bait” is such a broad criticism, it practically describes nothing at all. What’s an “Oscar Bait” movie today. A comedy? A DCEU film? Fast and Furious film? Okay, sure. Oppenheimer, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Anatomy of a Fall are too. Is this criticism or just an observation?
I just saw saltburn & I thought it was brilliant. I absolutely love the castle where it was filmed. Every room was stunning & immaculate. There was also the maze of hedges which has to be meticulously trimmed if u appreciate architecture this movie is very pleasing to the eye. Yes Oliver is weird as F But I thought all the characters were good.
Agree with most of these criticisms but honestly was not really put off by them - I walked away loving this film instead. Even with a bit of a shallow plot and "reveal" this just felt so fresh due to the settings and oddball characters. It really succeeded in entertaining while being gorgeous to watch as well. I can see myself revisiting this one a lot. SPOILERS Not sure if this was the fault of the writing, or the editing, but I do think Oliver's characterization felt a bit jarring as the story progresses and wish that this had been handled more smoothly. I get that his character is manipulative and plotting but Fennell really fails to lull the audience into his deceits. Instead he's shown in one scene being shy and awkward, and in the next, bold and deviant. To the viewer, this is messy, and could have really used some more build up or transitional scenes to make it seamless. Barry killed it though
I’m sorry but the marketing for this film is so cringe. Even with a stellar cast, the bits they used for each character are so awkward. And I don’t think Barry Keoghan is a heartthrob but I think they’re hoping he’ll turn out like Will Poulter and I don’t see that happening.
I agree with you. It's just too predictable and why would not he be caught by police after death of poisoning and killing the sister. His fingerprint was on the blade.
sloppiest film I’ve seen all year. eroticism felt weaponized and unmotivated ?? I didn’t understand this script at all yet was predicting every. single. thing. There were absolutely no stakes. This film felt smug at the end & I genuinely have no idea what I saw. Somewhere there exists a complete different edit of this film. shout out to this DP holy shit they saved it
I think the reasoning for the square aspect ratio ties into the idea that Oliver is a "moth" batting against the window to get the shiny things. His entire pov is the window in which he and we the audience are viewing Saltburn. Also the aspect ratio may not be for everyone's taste but I thoroughly enjoyed the movies look and feel. I do think the movie would have been more profound if Oli's lie about his family situation had been true.
same, it being revealed kinda ruined it. Why would a middle class person who clearly is well off be so mad at rich people and jealous? His lines about rich people not working hard made no sense. And the scene where he cleaned in felix’s room so desperately hinting back to his drug addict parents no longer makes sense.
I had plans to go to watch this movie and then continue my day, watched the movie and went back home due to an overdose of shock;confusion and feelings and ended my day 😂
I feel like me and you are the only ones with this exact take on the film, everyone’s been over the moon about this film. I just wish they’d just committed
"What even is this movie" were exactly my thoughts when i saw the trailer... not even in a way that made me intrigued enough to watch, just in a way that seemed like it was trying too hard and wouldnt emotionally move me in any way Tbh if they amped up the homoeroticism i might be in..
I hated this movie. What was Oliver's motive? He obviously had a plan. The 'plot' is all over the place. The period kissing, bath tub slurping, gay sex, grave necrophilia, naked dancing is just checking boxes and shock value. Boring and lame. Critics need to stop being paid to talk up bad films. Ms fennell needs to go back to writers school to learn the basics. This convinced me to buy a book and give up on today's movies.
i really liked the scene where ollie was just not budging when the dad of felix begged him to leave. i thought that was one of the more heavy, messed up scenes even if it lacked shocking visuals and really packed a punch. but the computer and ending scenes with the mom i thought was just extra and felt like an add on to force out a “aha” moment. aesthetics are great and i will be rewatching bc it’s pretty 😅 also i think most characters’ motivations were just all over the place and ollie’s conquest of taking over the house had zero stakes so i never really felt thrilled. his character could’ve been more explored ….idk. i somehow thought about american beauty watching the movie and how that movie explored characters so cleverly… wish saltburn had done that
Hmm ikr !!! The scene when u meet his parents where his dad kinda gave a look towards Oliver, I thought they’d go further into him lying like maybe the parents have known he had this side to him … but nooo they never really go into that 🤔
I also felt like Olived taking over the estate had no stakes and I've yet to see anyone mention that!! It totally took me out of it because it was light work for him. It also made little sense to me seeing how wealthy people are super protective of their wealth. Yes, the family is messed up but if it was to the point where their finances would be messed up they would have been broke YEARS ago. It just felt fake to me.
I think that the “abruptness” of Oliver’s shocking attributes coming out, is due to the fact that he was manipulating the entire time. He was calculating the entire time. Only in the end do we know this, and also know that he had a deep hatred (and love) for Felix simultaneously. I think the abruptness fits the character and plot really well. Inconsistent is accurate, but for a purpose.
it was definitely a breath of fresh air as i feel this year hasn’t had so many great movies so i think the well put together cinematography really sold me on this but might be a controversial opinion this movie could’ve been damn near perfect if it was another hour of taking time to dive into the characters and there intentions and also not having the entirety of Oliver’s intentions be laid out in a 50 second montage like we’re being spoon fed like toddlers. i would still give it a 7.5/8 out of 10 but this had all the potential to be an absolute perfect movie
I agree about the ending. I don't necessarily think I was underwhelmed so much as it seemed like the obvious and natural conclusion. I have a personal pet peeve about movies that do the montage that explicitly spells out the truth of what was happening the whole time because I find that some things are better left to the imagination. It also suggests, at least to me, that the storyteller doesn't trust their audience enough to assume that they're capable of figuring things out for themselves. Not everything needs detailed explaination. Another perfect example of this is when he outright says to Venetia that "I'm a vampire." Those were exactly the thoughts I was thinking about Oliver and about nearly everyone else in their own way, but the movie didn't need to outright say the quiet part out loud. I get it. I don't say this to say this is a bad movie by any stretch or that the story isn't good, but subtlety is a virtue, and the movie would have greatly benefited from more subtlety and fewer attempts at shock value. I kinda figured he was pulling schemes and scams to further ingrain himself at Saltburn fairly early on. The only thing I didn't guess was that he was even manipulating people and events at Oxford. For me, it became completely obvious that he was playing everyone when he basically gave the mother a veiled confession about everything he was doing when the two of them were talking about Pamela, so I honestly didn't take the "surprise twist ending" as a surprise twist ending, so much so that I didn't even think that it was trying to be a twist. I don't know if that's just me being able to read between the lines pretty well, an inadequacy in the story that its mystery wasn't layered enough to be genuinely surprising when all was revealed when it intended, or both. Regardless, the "surprise" was unnecessary because it just wasn't surprising. I was engaged with the story, but I honestly don't know if I vibe with it the way I was intended to. If this is an "eat the rich" movie, am I supposed to be rooting for Oliver? Maybe this is just because I generally don't envy or resent people who have more than me, but I just found him to be a contemptable, slippery person, especially when I realized that Felix was actually a halfway decent and well-intentioned person (although perhaps a bit possessive). Felix not being another vampire like Oliver and all the others there is what genuinely had me fooled the longest. To it's credit, I loved the shot where the demomic looking statue was positioned over the dead body of "the angel," Felix, with Oliver leaning against the statue. That shot right there was all that was needed to suggest that Oliver probably had something to do with Felix's death, but the ending montage kinda ruins that. If it was made to try to get everyone talking and discussing it, it should have left more room for questions instead of feeling the need to spoonfeed all of the answers at the end. It was a decently compelling story, and very well made and well performed, but I can't help but think that it believes that it's more clever than it really is. That's not necessarily a problem in and of itself. I respect anyone and anything that swings for the fences, and such stories and storytellers get extra credit in my book because of that ambition even if it doesn't fully land, but the montage at the end just felt like it was asking me to be impressed by a twist I really wasn't surprised by.
I enjoyed your review. I found this movie so bad I was thinking to never watch another movie and just get a good book from the library. If you know nothing of writing stories this is your movie. We see no motive for Oliver, no plot, boxes checked for shock value, gay sex, random nudity at the end, sickening fetishes everywhere. Critics need to stop getting paid to say it's a masterpiece, because it was boring and awful. Ms. Fennell needs to go back to school to learn how to write a story, this felt like it was thrown together as they filmed it. Boxes checked is all.
I'm pretty much in agreement with Karsten. I had the same reaction to those dumb flashbacks: all that supposed edginess, mysteriousness and high-brow intelligence just falls away when you suddenly treat your audience as being unable to visually fill in the gaps for themselves -- it brought it to the level of The Sixth Sense.
WEIRD & STRANGE FILM...... DON'T watch this weird film !! ( i knew it..he was evil & the killer......) it was infuriating how he killed the entire family...... but, got away..........!?? NO investigation......... the film was vulgar, & very strange film😮😮
yeah the scene where the reveal that he messed with felixs bike and was killed his sister and him and was pretending to type of the computer was so weird and unnecessary i actually laughed at it and don’t think i was supposed to. like weren’t we already supposed to kind of know that that was the case? kinda over explaining the obvious and treating the audience like it’s dumb but i still like the movie overall.
I LOVED this movie. It is NOT a social commentary. Remember oliver is well off himself. It is a classic thriller about manipulation shown in the female lens. Its been a long time since a movie has made me sit in my feelings of being uncomfortable and shocked me at how many twist and turns there are. Shocks that arent there just be there. Shocks that felt necessary and had substance. It doesnt throw everything into your face whatsoever. The trailer and press releases have all convinced us this would he some sort of normal sappy school drama, a homoerotic dark romance, or a devious eat the rich drama, but it isnt. It knows what the audience expects and refuses to give it to them. It is absurd, stylish, and weird in the best of ways. I found the characters to be full and real. The reason why oliver is so mystifying in the end, why he does things we think arent in character, explains itself in the end. we know nothing about this character we have sat down for 2 hrs with. Nothing we thought we knew. The movie tricks you constantly. The aspect ratio feels claustrophobic because the movie itself is stuffy and claustrophobic, its too close for comfort and is hard to breathe. this movie presented itself as if it were an old fantasy (more on this later) and the aspect ratio also helps with this (as well as the stylish intro and etc). it firs perfectly in line with the setting of a deadpan upper class traditional british setting. It really felt like an odd book youd find in the corner of oxfords old library that you’d write a thesis about. The eroticism and etc were all lovingly placed and I did not think this movie was trying to be edgy just because whats so ever. The disturbing scenes felt necessary. It explained parts of this character we knew nothing about. We only see glimpses of the real narrative through these scenes. We are as bamboozled as felix’s family is. I loved that it spun a femme fatale character around and showed eroticism in such a delicate lens. The director purposefully put a male in a role that if a women were in, we have to ask if would we be as disturbed. Unlike other edgy erotic pieces of media, like the idol, the movie succeeds in what it wanted to. Ask yourself if anyone was objectified, if anyone was sexualized unnecessarily, or if we even saw any genitalia (except for that ending) The movie isnt supposed to be cool, oliver isnt cool. His scene where he types on the laptop was extremely lame.. but he is lame as a person and it felt real. The movie felt like a gothic thriller book turned into an indie arthouse film. It was not a trendy eat the rich movie but rather a psychological digest on olivers character and more importantly the female lens in eroticism. it is slow and lusty. it is hard to watch but not hard to enjoy. it is fun. it confronts you with so much without saying anything at all. I think too many people are perceiving this movie incorrectly. I see a lot of complaints on its realism or etc. But you do not expect an extremely factual and objective biopic if that biopic was made by david lynch. How can you expect this film to be something its not? Can a movie not be stylish anymore without being torn apart as some sort of clout chaser? This movie solidifies what the rest of the directors very young filmography can grow up to become. Her unique identity. The problem is i do not see everyone being able to digest this movie. I do not expect everyone to enjoy Blue Velvet for example. But those who do, will.
I thought it was gonna be a Gay-Romance movie with a dash of Thriller. Like if Call me by Your Name mixed with Bones & All. Which ig it is? (or Handsome Devil mixed with Gone Girl and American Psycho)
i usually agree with karsten, so it was fun to totally disagree with his opinion on this. specifically on the 4:3, emerald and the cinematographer’s intention was to focus on the intimacy and bright bits in a lot of shadow. not being able to drown in the lush scenery is entirely the point.
This movie makes me think of American Psycho, like it's a black comedy that makes fun of rich people. And I don't think the flashbacks really happened. It's just what Oliver wants the audience to believe. He is a liar after all.
I sometimes felt the movie was trying to be too artistic with its cinematography and they focused on that more than the plot. I would have liked some scenes to feel more gritty and look more realistic instead of just too beautiful all the time. I also felt that some of the scenes were too weird and gross and so were uncomfortable to watch, especially in the cinema with my family. 2/5 for me.
Gratuitous, weird, sexual scenes detracted from the personality disorder and psychopathic implications of the theme of the film. Pure shock value that lessens the overall impact of the film... Absurd failure... (plus Barry is not an attractive man)...
I was so excited about this movie but I was very disappointed. The ending is exactly what I expected it to be, even from the trailers. I don’t know why people are saying this film is a masterpiece & that it had so many twists and turns. I guess the movie had twists but they all led to the same very predictable & obvious ending, which is boring. People compare this film to The Talented Mr. Ripley which I do not understand AT ALL. What made that movie so good is that the audience never knew what Tom Ripley was going to do next or how far he would go. Oliver’s motives in Saltburn are predictable and they really don’t make sense, in my opinion. Oliver isn’t poor or lower class. We see that he comes from a wealthy background too, so his only motivation for vengeance is because Felix ignored him sometimes……….until he didn’t and invited Oliver to spend the summer with his family. Unlike in the talented Mr. Ripley, Tom is actually extremely poor & has to work multiple jobs just to survive to the next day. Tom idolizes the rich but he also hates and is offended by their easy & carefree lifestyle that wasn’t earned and taken for granted. Also it’s very clear that Tom Ripley is romantically attracted to Dickie and most of Tom’s attraction to Dickie, comes from Dickie’s wealthy and lavish lifestyle. So Tom’s actions towards Dickie Greenleaf make sense. But again what was Oliver’s motivation for all of this? Yes he inherited money but he was already wealthy so why does that matter??? However, I liked the cinematography and the acting.
I didn't like this film, for some reason it doesn't "disgust me" or creeps me out. It was badly written so that the people already understand what is going on too early. If you don't write properly to do a good pay off it doesn't work. Maybe I'm too mature for this, but I didn't find the scenes so shocking. Maybe because they didnt build the characters well enough to make them shocking. A film like "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover" succeded much better in this.
I honestly think a few people are too caught up in the disgust to notice how sincerely the "shock" scenes are delivered, because the eroticism is very lovingly captured when you look past your own reactions to what you're seeing. I'd say they're pretty defining moments for our weird little sociopath, peak voyeuristic desire for someone he wanted but could never actually have; Grave scene hit like the perfect mix between an act of love and hate for me.
Grave scene was definitely a sad but erotic moment. I would have done something similar if I'd put myself in that situation
@@armandoosuna6525Having those thoughts is bad enough. Dont go putting it on the internet you bafoon
huh???
Thisss!!!💖💖
i completely disagree films are supposed to make us feel a certain way so it doesn’t really make sense to me that for us to understand the film we have to push away our feelings and reactions
Feel that you missed the mark here. Definitely not an eat the rich movie at all. Oliver comes from decent wealth himself. It's about obsession and how when Oliver can't have the object of that obsession, he settles for everything else tied to him he can possibly get.
Oliver comes from a middle class home what you on about
i am begging people to realize that not every movie negatively effecting rich people is an eat the rich movie people saw parasite and RAN with it
@@jamiegreenberg8476it’s still a clear satire of wealth and focuses around all of them being picked off one by one. Even if Oliver is middle class, it’s still very centered on extreme wealth. “Eat the rich” doesn’t have to be about extremely impoverished people getting revenge.
Regardless, it just didn’t feel like it had anything to say. It was fun to watch and it looked cool but that’s all I can say about it
I spent all the Oxford scenes expecting my friend who was there at the time to walk across the back of shot.
I thought it was an amazing movie ! The acting was top notch and I felt it explored very complicated human emotions. Ultimately we don’t really get a backstory or a “why” for Oliver. But I don’t think we need one. Just take the story for what it is and enjoy the ride
Saltburn was a low-rent, Gen-Z TikTok version of Talented Mr. Ripley. It's like they were making an entire film for the future meme-value. It tried to be a lot of different things (comedy, thriller, satire) and fell short on all fronts. The individual performances were good, but the lack of character development left me very underwhelmed.
It's a shit movie
at least im not sleeping thru oppie and flower moon.
i absolutely love the use of colour in saltburn, the use of red being shown suddenly is so SO CLEVER
people keep saying its an eat the rich film but its not- it's a film about deep obesssion
True! Like eat the rich vibe is okay but if that were the case then he would serially “eat” and kill rich families forever, instead his obsession with richness and specifically Saltburn is what pushes him.
Its an eat the rich film with a homoerotic narrative driver. His obsession with the idea of wealth and power play into the underlying nature of lust.
@@loganlocke9906i disagree on it being an eat the rich film. I see it as a critique on obsessing with wealth and class. Ollie is well off, yet he dedicates his life to deliberately taking down the wealthy. He doesnt do this to take down the 1%, but solely for his own gain. Its an obsession ive seen in real life, where people strive to attain status at any means even though it ultimately results in no positive in the world.
@@loganlocke9906bad take
@@misho2250 this doesn't want to take down the 1% he wants to join the 1%
I saw this film at an advance screening at my university and MAN was it entertaining to witness those crazy scenes in a packed theatre full of college kids. there was also a security guy who had to stand near the exit the whole time making sure that no one used their phones, and watching him was pretty funny as well. if nothing else, seeing this movie surrounded by other people made it so much better.
same story here lol the crowd added to it for sure
I have to agree. I watched it in a bougie London cinema. Lots of people who had probably studied at similar places. I went to the rival to Oxford lol so guessed there would be more.
It made me very uncomfortable tbh in those scenes. I made sounds of uncomfort.
@@user-jy2ci5ox9vDUUUDE same here I couldn't even watch....two scenes in particular 😅
My screen feom last night was packed and seeing everyone groan and scream in agony at certain scenes is ehat the communal experience of the theatre was made for.
all this is , is a perverted director's fantasy played out on screen
I don’t see it as a “eat the rich “ movie. It even goes out of its way to show that the main character himself is also well to do. That’s he’s just doing this because he likes it.
It’s obviously not, even emerald has said it’s not. She’s literally a posh former Oxford student
I don’t think it was Oscar bait. I think it was going for that weird A24-style vibe - that indie film you say you like to look cool and unique. I just saw it, and I liked it by the end of it. It was mid up until turn last third. Great cast and soundtrack.
Yeah, I mean Fennell's first movie got a lot of Oscar nomination aside the fact that the movie imo was good, it's also because of the pandemic which gave the movie an easy route to get nominated. Both her and Carey Mulligan said that they weren't expecting Promising Young Woman to win any Oscars as the movie premiered at Sundance but then the pandemic change everything. So yeah I don't think it's Oscar bait
That's funny I thought the end was where it fell off and got too ridiculous.
isn’t A24 also part of it?
A24 at least makes better movies 😅
Mid from last third onwards.
"it wants to be a homoerotic film people make gifs of"
edit: i saw it and this is very true, however, i was eating it up! y'all be safe though 🙏
All I needed to hear. No thanks
Christmas is coming
@@pumitriii6160 Your loss sis
@@mykittystinksbad2fr lmao
@@mykittystinksbad2 YASS SLAY QUEEN!!!
Honestly I think that the shocking scenes were REALLY in character for Oliver. He was always (or wanted to always) be in control yet with Felix, he wasn't. He manipulated him but was ultimately the one obsessed and at Felix's mercy to the point where even though HE is the reason Felix is dead, he still can't resist giving into his feelings for him. The grave scene really encapsulates how depraved he is where his want for power mixes with his want for Felix himself. Also, its worth noting that Oliver enjoyed Felix the most when he was being a vouyer of him, when Oliver was able to witness Felix being alone and then get to touch the aftermath (much like with the bath scene). He wants to be in control of the others but the grave scene still feels like a submission to Felix
Although I didn’t like the movie’s message I do think Oliver’s obsession was captured well. I think most of us spent at least some part of our adolescence envious of a peer who had a picture perfect life. Most of us learn to outgrow that envy but Oliver’s festered into a dark sexual obsession. Where the movie missed the mark though was rewarding Oliver for all of his predatory behavior - an extremely yikes message to deliver gen Z audiences
@@Sambouajram11correct me if I’m wrong but the “reward” would be that he never got caught and him getting the house right?
@Sambouajram11 I didn't find Oliver envious. He was a tactician who knows with certainty what he wants and that he would get it. He was working on this well before attending Oxford - Felix and his family were simply the unfortunate ones that owned the Saltburn estate. Most conquerors build empires through a yern for absolute power; Oliver was a conqueror. Felix was the conduit of that power Oliver is infatuated with, and he will do anything to consume it (the bath tub). Was it love for Felix? No. The grave scene to me was Oliver declaring a victory or some sort of dominance. He ****ed Felix into the ground.
@Sambouajram11 Honestly, this might be seen as corny, but a more satisfying ending would have been Farleigh being left the estate, eliminating Oliver from being part of it all. Yeah, it's unrealistic, BUT we know that they could never cut ties with Farleigh(though they say they try to, even in the end), and they're rich. They'd always try to keep it all in the family. Honestly, I just wanted to see that to see how Oliver would react in a situation like that. If it would "wake him up" or he'd do what he always does
@@Sambouajram11 I don't think we're meant to side with Oliver, but i also don't believe every movie should have a "message". In any case, audiences should be critical enough to differentiate between right and wrong without the movie explicitly telling them
The tub scene was a true WTF moment. The dirt scene, thanks to the tub and vampire scenes, I saw coming from a mile away. I was still really uncomfortable watching it, as was half my theater based on the amount of confused and uncomfortable laughter (and groans) going on. I wanted to cover my eyes with my hands…and peep through my splayed fingers. To quote Clerks II “I’m disgusted and repulsed and I can’t look away”
Omfg when he laid on the grave the thought flew into my mind but then i felt embarrassed to even think it could happen and then oh boy ...it happened
What happened in the Vampire scene again? I completely missed that part because I almost fell asleep halfway through the movie.
@@robertbench5187 he fngered Venetia while on her period and they take turns tasting her blood
@@robertbench5187he slurps on Venetia’s period blood
saw this at a film festival and the crowd was so into it, me included now i have rewatched and while i think it's twist doesn't work all that well, so many of it's scenes haven't left my head since i saw it and i feel so disgusted and uncomfortable watching it that for me i really like it
"i feel so disgusted and uncomfortable"
Well that's exactly the same way i felt when watching Fennell's first movie so that's nice to hear about this lol
@FelixCattonSoupshe ain’t getting awards for a movie that’s so divisive sorry to break your bubble. Seems like half of the ppl thought it was trash and the other half thought it’s the next evolution of cinema 😂
@@tristan5569I think it’s because a lot of people mistake surface level aesthetics in a movie for quality. The soundtrack was great, the cinematography was excellent, the pacing was good, and there were a few shock scenes. That’s enough to win people over that just like to vibe with a movie, and if a movie does those things well enough, they’ll mistake it for a masterpiece. That’s what happened with this movie. Surface level stuff is great, fantastic even, but the script devolves into a somewhat jumbled mess near the last third.
@@nolanthedude I was gonna say the same thing, there are aspects of the movie that are near phenomenal, the performances were great, cinematography was as well, and the soundtrack I thought fit the movie well. However those in themselves do not make a masterpiece, at best a mediocre watch with built in collective reactions
@@nolanthedude Gotta agree with you. I quite liked it and was entertained (always better to be entertained than bored), but I think the story and themes needed to be tighter. Especially when thing s start to turn around on the story.
Just came out of Saltburn, and man…it was doing so so so good…if they’d ended after That Scene in the Dirt, I would’ve given it a 4/5, but then that last 25 minutes or so were so predictable and such a tonal shift that I dropped it down to a 3.5/5. That being said, it’s a lottttt better that PYW, with more rewatchability (except for that ending).
agreed about the ending. i assumed it was building to something much more powerful: someone loving and genuine getting a taste of wealth and then slowling shifting into someone more entitled and cold. instead the last few minutes absolutely unwound that and it felt really juvenile. like hahaha he was secretly this machiavellian psycho the whole time. like huh.
The plot twist ruined FUCKING EVERYTHING. You build and create this atmosphere and this aesthetic and this complicated, unpleasant and messy and fascinating character just to turn him into a moustache twirling villain...
the ending is so good though, it says a lot about the message of the film
@elisazouza yikes.... ending ruins the film and spoon feeds its audience
the ending doesnt rlly ruin the film it shows what he wanted to do all along@@kiaadams104
"Trying too Hard" seems to be this movie's biggest flaw, which was the vibe I picked up from the trailer. Which is a shame, since the cast and crew are all very talented, but it just seems to be shocking for the sake of it.
I feel the same way.
have you seen it yet?
Exactly that. It's trying too hard to be shocking and artsy. It's boring, dull and predictable in my opinion
@@TheMissingLink1 No, I haven't watched it yet, it's not due to be released in my country until early December, at the latest.
Yep. Rip of the talented mr ripley and add those scenes to be edgy
Saltburn for me was secretly like a murder mystery from the villains perspective, that somehow still retain the mystery
Exactly it was brilliant i don't understand the criticism
Absolutely loved it. Loved the weirdness of the movie. Loved the awkward "artsy" vibe and dark moments. Loved the performances and "grossness" of the movie. Fantastic soundtrack and cinematography. Interesting characters. Solid dialogue. Mad ending. Almost like a Joker scene. It's a blast. It's one of the most unique movies I've seen in a cinema in a long time. It's fearless moviemaking and performance.
It was a fairly daring film.. however I'm sure there are other similar films.. one I think of is "the dreamers"
100% agree with you!
I absolutely adored it. And Barry Keoghan wasn’t chosen as the Joker in The Batman for nothing clearly 😅😅
same i love the awkward feeling it felt very intentional to me
And don't forget the British humour. Hilarious and witty from start to finish. I think we're all sick of predictable Hollywood. It was refreshing to see a movie as daring and original as this in the cinema. Loved it!
I feel like some of the humour will work better with British audiences. I’ll admit it’s nowhere near as clever as it wants us to believe but it’s so much fun and I think it’s a must see. Stupid fun.
Couldn’t agree more
100% agree. i’ve only seen americans bashing it, but every australian and british person who i’ve seen LOVES it (me included)
There was something in watching Richard E. Grant having a laughing fit over a scene in Superbad.
Yes! I’m not British but I grew up consuming a lot of British teen stuff like Skins, misfits, and in betweeners. It captured it all perfectly, it’s always super gay while being very straight. The idea of your friends also being your worst enemy
I’m a Brit and hated it lol
Hard dissagree on the 4:3, most of the shots were in big high cieling rooms or were of people talking and I just liked how everything was framed
it suits the intimate scenes really well. Some memorable shots were entirely filled up with two peoples faces. it forces us into the closeness (and grossness) of the moment
@@-Roos97-there are many high “ceiling” shots and establishing shots that utilize the aspect ratio well, not to mention the many intimate shots with one or two characters. I don’t understand your argument tbh, respectfully
Honestly I would have a loved a spoiler section for this one. I know that’s not really your thing but I’m probably not gonna see this and would have loved to know specifically what scenes you didn’t like.
The uncomfortable scenes he was on about were (1) when Barry slurps up the remaining water from jacobs bath because Jacob had jerked off in the bath. (2) Barry eats a girl out when she’s on her period and they show SO much. (3) jacob dies and then Barry fucks his grave
Why not watch the film before watching reviews??
I think it’s worth noting the 4:3 is the full frame for 35mm film so you are not cutting any image off, you are getting the full height, most movies in 16:9 cut the top and bottom off so this is opening the frame up rather than limiting it in, therefore it reveals the height of the rooms and the buildings, not using it as a tool for claustrophobia, it’s more of a throwback to pre-1950s films where the full frame was used
Ever heard of Panavision?
@@mrwhitemantv of course but that stretches the frame wider than the default rather than the 4:3 making the frame tighter than the default which is what he was suggesting in the video
@@jacobmacdonagh4070 with panavision you are still using the full frame and not cutting anything, you are capturing wider field of view horizontally and the same fov vertically
@@mrwhitemantv Yeah yeah I know I was just making a point that 4:3 isn't inherently claustrophobic and a lot of 2.39:1 films are anamorphic anymore and are just cropped from full frame
@@jacobmacdonagh4070 even with cropped frame you can just slap on a wider lens. I don’t see your point
I disagree about the grave scene, I thought that was very well set up and very on brand for the character. This film has so many little details that are so easy to miss, for example in his Oxford tutorial, Ollie talks about Robert browning’s poem “my last duchess”, which you would have to study to understand how aptly it fits in here but the crux of it is that the narrator of the poem is admiring a portrait of a former lover of his, and it’s implied he killed her because she spoke to other men, etc. and he wanted her to himself, and only now she’s inanimate and nothing more than a painting is she in an acceptable form to him. Similarly, Ollie would rather Felix was dead than not have him, and only once Felix is dead does Ollie actually show him the love he wanted to show him when he was alive. The idea of essentially preserving beauty or moulding it into an acceptable form is very present throughout literature, for example in the Greek myth (and Shaw’s play) Pygmalion, which are essentially about moulding a woman to become acceptable to a man (also the plot of pretty woman). We see Ollie doing this with the sister, exercising control over her and essentially bending her to his will, forcing her to eat etc so it’s not as though the grave scene isn’t foreshadowed at all, in fact given Ollie’s character I don’t think it’s that shocking at all.
i loved it. it was visceral, disgusting and a unique expression of blurring the lines between hatred and love. i think the scene with the dirt was one of the most shocking yes, but jesus it sticks and you dont even know really how to respond. catharsis. it's one of the most unique movies i've ever seen, i've never seen anything like it before.
Just out the cinema and I didn’t know what to do during that scene, think he just wanted to get as close to him as possible
@@georgeetboom7719and at the same time so much hatred. I fucking loved this movie
Have you not watched The Talented Mr Ripley ? It's a wafer thin rip off of that, basically.
Only someone as privileged as Emerald Fennell could make a film about class disparity where the rich are the most sympathetic characters in the whole thinf
I don’t think this ⬆️ is an original thought.
None of the characters are likeable. Do you want to be spoon-fed the same boring 'rich bad, poor good' narratives over and over again?
She is quoted in an article sayung she wants us to feel sympathy for unsympathetic characters (in the guardian I think)
Did you miss the part where SPOILERS Oliver is revealed to not be poor at all, but come from an upper middle class background (his dad mentions how they vacation in Mykonos every summer).
Sympathetic? Not a single one of them was likeable lol. Besides, Oliver was rich as well. Point missed hard.
'i ended up seeing a lot more of him than i thought i would' those who saw the film know...
I haven't even watched the film yet and that made me laugh
there were probably upwards of 20 floppy dick shots in that final scene and I was quite shocked by the brashness of it lmaooo. Quite the fucking film indeed
I have to say, I’m not even going to watch your review. For as pretentious as you think the movie was, you sure are pretentious yourself. The first minute of this video is basically “I’m making this video because this movie is going to be popular and that’s the only reason why.” Why exactly should I continue watching ? - I just got back from watching this in a theater by myself and I absolutely loved it. So Anyway 🙄
Exactlyyyyyy!
Wow I really agree, it was hard for me to put a finger on what bothered me and you articulated it really well. I think most of all what threw me off is that there wasn't any coherent plotline, and the entire character of Oliver was incoherent. Like, his whole ordeal is that he's obsessed with Felix, but he's the first person he gets rid of? And for what? Since when was his goal was to gain control of the house? Especially when u consider that since the start it was ALWAYS abt getting closer to Felix. And I can understand the whole dominance thing he tried to achieve with the other members of the house, and that he felt uncomfortable in submission but with Felix he literally submitted himself to him, he was what it was about. So the entire escalation wasn't just 'unexpected', it was completely off brand. And after the aftermath of the party, it was very clear to me that Oliver was responsible and where everything was going, so the ending was super underwhelming. And the weirdness and pervertion only made sense to me in the bathtub scene, and it felt like there was so much missed potential there. The dirt scene could've made sense if the circumstances that lead to it made sense, but they don't. And the yard scene or even the Farghly scene just aren't necessary imo. I agree there's too much trying to be edgy and shocking and too little concrete characters and plots. Just didn't buy it and the end didn't impact me at all. Good soundtrack though.
I actually think the shocking scenes work really well in conveying the motivations of Oliver, as Venetia says in her final scene, Oliver is a moth who’s drawn to shiny things yet cannot help but put holes in everything he touches. The bathtub, vampire, and grave scenes show that Oliver isn’t just a sexually perverse freaky little man, he does these things because of his destructive and all-consuming infatuation. These scenes are a culmination of intense and misguided infatuation, self-loathing and hatred, a combination which was evidently extremely corrosive. Because of this, I also don’t feel as though the film was trying to be a quirky eat the rich film, he is so clearly obsessed with their world, he doesn’t want to destroy it he wants to live in it, and the family’s naïveté leads them to fall prey to Oliver. If they’d leaned more into the shocking scenes I think it would’ve misrepresented Oliver’s intentions and would’ve taken away from the sincerity and nuance of the motivations which guided them.
thisss!!!
tbh yeah i think they didn't need to lean into the shocking scenes, they worked fine to represent the themes just like you said as they are. And I definitely see what they were trying to do with Oliver's character by the end of it; but man I came out of it so underwhelmed because despite seeing how Oliver's character was wrapped up I felt that there were so many things just left in the dust because of it. Was Oliver's deep desire rooted in Felix himself or the family's status? The mom character was so great at portraying the vapid nature of her lifestyle and the family's wealth; and it absolutely made play right into Oliver's plan at the end but I felt like they didn't do anything with that commentary on just how empty all that wealth is.
If they wanted to just talk about how far obsession can go, they should've just stuck with that and cut out all that other commentary because it felt stuffed. But then they would be cutting out so much great work the actors did with their characters...
idk there are so many moments where I feel like a movie is really good i just didn't understand it on the first watch but not this one. Everything else about it is great though and i still think its worth watching and dissecting
The trailer gave me "Wants an Oscar" vibes for sure.
Yep, it'll definitely be on a potential "Oscar Bait" list.
I love the idea of watching rich ppl suffer in films. Im sure we all do🐶
I don't mind that but when it fails, that's a shame
Honeslty I dont think its Oscar bait at all, Emereld Fenell knew full well this was a hard sell to get any nominations
@@Oscar-kc5lu That's kinda true. She and Carey Mulligan once admit that Promising Young Woman was not a movie that was aiming for award seasons but pandemic changed everything which gave the movie an easy route to get nominated eventhough they weren't aiming at that
After seeing this movie, my first thought was "an attempt was made..."
I'm going to see this just for Barry Koeghan
and i’m gonna see it just for elordi
Barry was great in this. His best role since Killing of the Sacred Deer in my opinion
How interesting! I actually LOVED this - mostly every complaint I heard in this video I’d direct at Promising Young Woman. I remember leaving feeling so meh about it and as if it was a generalized mis mash of film mechanics that tried to accomplish too much and fell apart on a climax that I thought was disinteresting and contrived. This, for whatever reason, totally worked for me, however. Was thrilled the entire time
I agree!!! Thought this was so well done and so much better than Promising Young Woman!!!
@FelixCattonSoupI don't think this is the case tbh
Maybe it applies to both?
Yep same here, shocked when I saw it was the same director. This one was great, and PYW was one of the most disappointing movies of the year for me, as I'd heard so many great things.
You know it’s a bad day when Karsten Runquist doesn’t
i hate when karsten runquist doesn't
@@nicolasrieldikr just
@@nabil5134My biggest problem is that he
when he said that
Kind of like when Mr Krabs
The estate being signed over to him so easily was the part I felt was very inauthentic.
Agree. Too easy that you feel it forced the plot, the motivations of everything Ollie did 😂
This film is not my thing tbh, but the point about people coming from money not knowing how to do an eat the rich film properly is very interesting
This isn't really a spoiler but the "flashback to the thing that was ACTUALLY happening in the background throughout the whole movie" is so wack and forced in nearly* every film that has it
what happens?? Spoil me Idc don’t plan on watching lmao
SPOILER WARNING (just in case other ppl click on the replies)
It just turns out that Barry Keoghan’s character made it so that he and Jacob Elordi’s character would meet, become friends and eventually take out everyone in the bloodline to get the saltburn estate passed down to Keoghan himself. They show this near the end of the film as the big reveal after Elordi’s character dies “mysteriously”-he’s actually poisoned by Keoghan’s character. There’s a montage that goes back to the two meeting initially because Elordi’s bike broke down and Keoghan gives him a ride, but now it shows that Keoghan’s character put some shit in his wheel so it would break. The montage has other stuff like that but for everything that happens after being “all part of his plan”. I didn’t even dislike the movie really, it’s just this part that’s super lame and unnecessary
@@lukefr1234 ahhh, I appreciate the summary! Kinda reminds me of gone girl but it sounds like it was executed poorly? The ‘it was me the whole time’ has been exhausted lately. Might still check it out later on streaming services or somethin
Yes, I think this film might be best enjoyed by people who haven't yet seen so many other movies that have already used this device (esp those that did it a bit better, tbh).
Yeah I feel like it unintentionally backfired in that it took something away from the film, at least in my opinion. I prefer the idea that he finds himself at Saltburn as a result of a single lie and capitalises on it rather than the idea that he meticulously planned every aspect of it.
You captured exactly how I felt about this movie. A lot of potential, great performances all around, but a lack of identity that was a bit exhausting by the end. Perhaps a re-edit could turn this into a true suspense thriller.
I was hooked the entire time tbh, it was bizarre and one of the more disturbing movies I've ever seen but it 100% worked for me.
I completely see why it won't work for others and it's certainly not a movie I'd feel comfortable recommending to others (or even admitting I've watched to others lol) but I don't think it needed to succeed on all the various layers you mentioned in order for it to be a good film.
If this was the most disturbing film you've ever seen, you need to watch more movies.
@trentcoleman9221 read it again, I said "one of the more disturbing", not "the most disturbing".
this movie isn't eat the rich and i never got the impression that it was trying to be. It's about desire and obsession. I think if you go in expecting it to be a criticism of wealth you'll be disappointed, but that wasn't the point of the film
couldn't agree more
Kind of fucked up morally if the former is your take-away from the film.
You’ve definitely earned a fan with this one. I’ve looked around for a video that is realistic and critical of this movie and you hit the nail on the head. This movie is so ranted and raved about and after watching I couldn’t see why. You summed up all of my feelings about this movie in 8 min. Thank you
It's definitely a refreshing take.
I enjoyed this movie, until the ending. The ending really ruined it for me. They over-indulged in the “explanation” of it all, and it actually cheapened some of the more meaningful scenes in the film. Had they ended the film with Elsbeth on life support and then cut to Oliver’s dance at the end, there would have been enough breadcrumbs to lead the audience to the appropriate conclusion, but still leaving enough room for doubt and thought and theories about character motivations and what actually happened. I felt a little ripped off honestly. Spoon-feeding is not my thing.
It’s the talented mr ripley without the good pacing and clear cut character motivations
Yeah it's like a gen z copy of that, I just wish it wasn't so similar. Like this movie just felt unoriginal in everything it did well and original in everything it did bad. Mr Ripley is the better movie imo
I really disagree with you here. I saw this film in advance as a fan of Promising Young Woman (I'll never forget the ending), and you're right about it being unpredictable. I thought that it was completely the opposite of what I was expecting, but I'm thrilled they did something so fascinating and unique in execution, even if it may seem filled to the brim at times. I kept on hearing your reasons for it not working for you and I just don't see them for myself, personally. It's not a masterpiece by any means, but I haven't been able to get this film out of my head since I've seen it and I thought the cinematography was gorgeous.
The word I'd use to describe this movie is "evil".
Yeah, it has a really interesting and fun vibe toward the beginning, then gradually moves toward what I would call hideously creepy, then full on sickening malevolence towards the end. It very much worked for me, but it’s grotesque.
I love that it took a woman to write a period sex scene. No way a man could have done that and made it both sexy and gross the way Emerald did.
Yeah I guess it looked sexy because you can barely see the blood but I’m a woman with periods, so nope hell to the no 😊
I love that a majority of the comments on this video actually love the film and have so many nuanced insights that outweigh this half-baked review. Like Emerald Fennell said, are you shocked, or are you just pretending to be shocked?
i thought the " shocking " scenes , namely the grave ad bathwater, were poetically beautiful. to be so tragically desperate, touch starved, deprived, driven to insanity. i thought they were amazing and it reminded me of the first time i read the grave scene from wuthering heights even
Already got a 7 pm showing coming up soon. Honestly the trailer is what sucked me in. Throwing in Bloc Party The Pioneers just gave a really cool, dreamy vibe. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't also going to see Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi
I just finished it a few hours ago and I loved it. Everything from acting to writing to cinematography etc. I was entertained in every moment. Walked into the movie completely blind, not even reading the synopsis or watching a trailer. Just went because I’m a fan of Barry keoghan. Which is probably why I enjoyed it as much as I did. The tub scene was a total wtf moment for me but kinda got me to expect more weirdness so like the vampire or dirt scene didn’t blow my mind but I still found it very creepy which was its intentions I believe. I personally liked the ending, even if it was spoon fed and not necessary but it didn’t ruin anything for me
I loved the trailers, especially the line describing it as a “gothic thriller dusted with candy-pop glitter.” I wanted that, and that’s exactly what I got and so much more. I can’t say I loved it, but it's a type of movie I've never seen before and might never see again, and I enjoyed that experience. I thought the reveal at the end was very satisfying
I just saw it, and though I haven’t processed why exactly, I really liked it
Karsten, I hope you realise that most of your fanbase is not old enough to watch this film!
Wait really? I thought his audience was mostly younger adults
What I found disturbing is that the movie (where I am anyway) was rating 15 💀
What makes you think that?
@@Jonny0W bc his fan base is pretty young😐
its rated 15 which if anything is too young imo
Interesting that you found it unpredictable. I pretty much called all the gross out scenes but I still enjoyed it cause I wanted them to happen. I liked it more as a film about manipulation than any sort of social commentary (whatever it had to say in that respect is weak for sure).
i think that if their goal was to make us uncomfortable, it worked cause i had to pause and walk around the room anytime barry did *anything*
Not the point of the review by any means, but I still feel like it needs to be said...I really don't understand how anyone can watch PYW and, at any point, in any rewatch, come out of it thinking that it's "cheesy". You don't have to like it, and it's totally fair not to, but...CHEESY???
First half: The Great Gatsby, and then gradually turns into The talented Mr. Ripley!
One of the best films I've seen this year. I left the theater in a daze, a delightful daze, but a daze nonetheless - not unlike how I left the theater after Natural Born Killers many many years ago. I haven't been truly shocked by a movie in years - and by golly, Saltburn did the trick. That being said. I knew from the trailer what I was getting. I've seen a lot of marketing over the years - it's easy to read between the lines. Some people thought this was a friendship movie, a Call Me by Your Name. WTF? How did they think that? Did they only watch the first half of the trailer? Regardless, I love decadence and salaciousness and crazy flawed characters and sumptuous cinematography. This was the movie for me. Also, the audience I saw it with was super fun. They laughed uproariously! And when they gasped, they gasped in sync. That was as much fun as the movie itself. Barry K is a freakin' revelation. Rosemand Pike, Jacob, all of them. And Poor dear Pamela.
Oh Pamela. She'll do ANYTHING for attention.
I personally thought the strangeness worked, the imagery made it justified, the film was incredible and it was trying a little too hard but why shouldn’t it? I felt it was all earned and to be honest might be my favourite film of the year, I respect your opinion but I severely disagree
Not much of an original thought in this comment section coming from many who haven’t even seen the film.
Though I see some of the flaws he sees, I don’t agree with his conclusions in a few cases. I love this movie. It’s fine he doesn’t. I think people should make up their minds rather than just quoting a critic as if it’s their own opinion, but whatever. I agree that people should go in knowing as little as possible and it is being edgy, but I don’t think the ending or the scene with “dirt” criticism. The “dirt” sequence is an escalation of the bathtubs scene. It’s absurd and ridiculous, but it’s supposed to be. I disagree with his thoughts on the films tone being inconsistent. I also found the ending very predictable if you’re paying attention to certain moments that very clearly telecast what’s to come. Also, if you know what other films inspired Fennel, it’s pretty much a spoiler.
I do agree that Promising Young Woman is not as good on a second watch, but I found this movie soooo much better than that film. I don’t think this film will be worst on second watch. I bet you’ll catch what this guy didn’t.
Either way, not everyone is going to enjoy this film. I just think some of these commenters on here should watch the movie for themselves and form their own opinion if they really cared to check it out. A movie being called “Oscar Bait” is such a broad criticism, it practically describes nothing at all. What’s an “Oscar Bait” movie today. A comedy? A DCEU film? Fast and Furious film? Okay, sure. Oppenheimer, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Anatomy of a Fall are too. Is this criticism or just an observation?
The premise seems strong, but unfortunately, they're trying to juggle too many concepts at once. At least Carey Mulligan has a supporting role.
I’d watch the film and make up your own mind.
The movie is really good, actually. And I would say at least Barry Keoghan as a leading role more than anything
I just saw saltburn & I thought it was brilliant. I absolutely love the castle where it was filmed. Every room was stunning & immaculate. There was also the maze of hedges which has to be meticulously trimmed if u appreciate architecture this movie is very pleasing to the eye. Yes Oliver is weird as F But I thought all the characters were good.
It's not a castle
@@ew3606basically one lol
Agree with most of these criticisms but honestly was not really put off by them - I walked away loving this film instead. Even with a bit of a shallow plot and "reveal" this just felt so fresh due to the settings and oddball characters. It really succeeded in entertaining while being gorgeous to watch as well. I can see myself revisiting this one a lot.
SPOILERS
Not sure if this was the fault of the writing, or the editing, but I do think Oliver's characterization felt a bit jarring as the story progresses and wish that this had been handled more smoothly. I get that his character is manipulative and plotting but Fennell really fails to lull the audience into his deceits. Instead he's shown in one scene being shy and awkward, and in the next, bold and deviant. To the viewer, this is messy, and could have really used some more build up or transitional scenes to make it seamless. Barry killed it though
I’m sorry but the marketing for this film is so cringe. Even with a stellar cast, the bits they used for each character are so awkward. And I don’t think Barry Keoghan is a heartthrob but I think they’re hoping he’ll turn out like Will Poulter and I don’t see that happening.
I agree with you. It's just too predictable and why would not he be caught by police after death of poisoning and killing the sister. His fingerprint was on the blade.
sloppiest film I’ve seen all year. eroticism felt weaponized and unmotivated ?? I didn’t understand this script at all yet was predicting every. single. thing. There were absolutely no stakes. This film felt smug at the end & I genuinely have no idea what I saw. Somewhere there exists a complete different edit of this film. shout out to this DP holy shit they saved it
2:33 Yap. 100% agree. Tried to juggle too many themes at once, making the tone inconsistent and lacking depth in each one of them.
Unexpected film... I thought that I will watch Jacob being gay :'( but was great.
I think the reasoning for the square aspect ratio ties into the idea that Oliver is a "moth" batting against the window to get the shiny things. His entire pov is the window in which he and we the audience are viewing Saltburn. Also the aspect ratio may not be for everyone's taste but I thoroughly enjoyed the movies look and feel.
I do think the movie would have been more profound if Oli's lie about his family situation had been true.
same, it being revealed kinda ruined it. Why would a middle class person who clearly is well off be so mad at rich people and jealous? His lines about rich people not working hard made no sense. And the scene where he cleaned in felix’s room so desperately hinting back to his drug addict parents no longer makes sense.
I hated this movie, it’s just an Egdelord’s wet dream. Jacob Elordi, who I don’t even like came out unscathed tho so good for him.
I had plans to go to watch this movie and then continue my day, watched the movie and went back home due to an overdose of shock;confusion and feelings and ended my day 😂
Not smart enough to understand an intelligent movie. Go watch Star Wars III.
I feel like me and you are the only ones with this exact take on the film, everyone’s been over the moon about this film. I just wish they’d just committed
I AGREE
"What even is this movie" were exactly my thoughts when i saw the trailer... not even in a way that made me intrigued enough to watch, just in a way that seemed like it was trying too hard and wouldnt emotionally move me in any way
Tbh if they amped up the homoeroticism i might be in..
Yeah my first thought on seeing the trailer was "this movie is not going to be nearly as gay as this trailer wants me to think it might be."
to be honest, the most disturbing part about this movie is jacob elordi with a british accent
I hated this movie. What was Oliver's motive? He obviously had a plan. The 'plot' is all over the place. The period kissing,
bath tub slurping, gay sex, grave necrophilia, naked dancing is just checking boxes and shock value. Boring and lame. Critics need to stop being paid to talk up bad films. Ms fennell needs to go back to writers school to learn the basics. This convinced me to buy a book and give up on today's movies.
i really liked the scene where ollie was just not budging when the dad of felix begged him to leave. i thought that was one of the more heavy, messed up scenes even if it lacked shocking visuals and really packed a punch. but the computer and ending scenes with the mom i thought was just extra and felt like an add on to force out a “aha” moment. aesthetics are great and i will be rewatching bc it’s pretty 😅
also i think most characters’ motivations were just all over the place and ollie’s conquest of taking over the house had zero stakes so i never really felt thrilled. his character could’ve been more explored ….idk. i somehow thought about american beauty watching the movie and how that movie explored characters so cleverly… wish saltburn had done that
Hmm ikr !!! The scene when u meet his parents where his dad kinda gave a look towards Oliver, I thought they’d go further into him lying like maybe the parents have known he had this side to him … but nooo they never really go into that 🤔
I also felt like Olived taking over the estate had no stakes and I've yet to see anyone mention that!! It totally took me out of it because it was light work for him. It also made little sense to me seeing how wealthy people are super protective of their wealth. Yes, the family is messed up but if it was to the point where their finances would be messed up they would have been broke YEARS ago. It just felt fake to me.
I didnt liked it, felt depressed after watching it. What a weird movie
I think that the “abruptness” of Oliver’s shocking attributes coming out, is due to the fact that he was manipulating the entire time. He was calculating the entire time. Only in the end do we know this, and also know that he had a deep hatred (and love) for Felix simultaneously. I think the abruptness fits the character and plot really well. Inconsistent is accurate, but for a purpose.
ITS NOT AN EAT THE RICH MOVIE PLEASEEEEEE
Sick of psychosexual nonsense passed off as "art".
Basically a redo of the Talented Mr. Ripley.
it was definitely a breath of fresh air as i feel this year hasn’t had so many great movies so i think the well put together cinematography really sold me on this but might be a controversial opinion this movie could’ve been damn near perfect if it was another hour of taking time to dive into the characters and there intentions and also not having the entirety of Oliver’s intentions be laid out in a 50 second montage like we’re being spoon fed like toddlers. i would still give it a 7.5/8 out of 10 but this had all the potential to be an absolute perfect movie
I agree about the ending. I don't necessarily think I was underwhelmed so much as it seemed like the obvious and natural conclusion. I have a personal pet peeve about movies that do the montage that explicitly spells out the truth of what was happening the whole time because I find that some things are better left to the imagination. It also suggests, at least to me, that the storyteller doesn't trust their audience enough to assume that they're capable of figuring things out for themselves. Not everything needs detailed explaination. Another perfect example of this is when he outright says to Venetia that "I'm a vampire." Those were exactly the thoughts I was thinking about Oliver and about nearly everyone else in their own way, but the movie didn't need to outright say the quiet part out loud. I get it. I don't say this to say this is a bad movie by any stretch or that the story isn't good, but subtlety is a virtue, and the movie would have greatly benefited from more subtlety and fewer attempts at shock value. I kinda figured he was pulling schemes and scams to further ingrain himself at Saltburn fairly early on. The only thing I didn't guess was that he was even manipulating people and events at Oxford. For me, it became completely obvious that he was playing everyone when he basically gave the mother a veiled confession about everything he was doing when the two of them were talking about Pamela, so I honestly didn't take the "surprise twist ending" as a surprise twist ending, so much so that I didn't even think that it was trying to be a twist. I don't know if that's just me being able to read between the lines pretty well, an inadequacy in the story that its mystery wasn't layered enough to be genuinely surprising when all was revealed when it intended, or both. Regardless, the "surprise" was unnecessary because it just wasn't surprising. I was engaged with the story, but I honestly don't know if I vibe with it the way I was intended to. If this is an "eat the rich" movie, am I supposed to be rooting for Oliver? Maybe this is just because I generally don't envy or resent people who have more than me, but I just found him to be a contemptable, slippery person, especially when I realized that Felix was actually a halfway decent and well-intentioned person (although perhaps a bit possessive). Felix not being another vampire like Oliver and all the others there is what genuinely had me fooled the longest. To it's credit, I loved the shot where the demomic looking statue was positioned over the dead body of "the angel," Felix, with Oliver leaning against the statue. That shot right there was all that was needed to suggest that Oliver probably had something to do with Felix's death, but the ending montage kinda ruins that. If it was made to try to get everyone talking and discussing it, it should have left more room for questions instead of feeling the need to spoonfeed all of the answers at the end. It was a decently compelling story, and very well made and well performed, but I can't help but think that it believes that it's more clever than it really is. That's not necessarily a problem in and of itself. I respect anyone and anything that swings for the fences, and such stories and storytellers get extra credit in my book because of that ambition even if it doesn't fully land, but the montage at the end just felt like it was asking me to be impressed by a twist I really wasn't surprised by.
I enjoyed your review. I found this movie so bad I was thinking to never watch another movie and just get a good book from the library. If you know nothing of writing stories this is your movie. We see no motive for Oliver, no plot, boxes checked for shock value, gay sex, random nudity at the end, sickening fetishes everywhere. Critics need to stop getting paid to say it's a masterpiece, because it was boring and awful. Ms. Fennell needs to go back to school to learn how to write a story, this felt like it was thrown together as they filmed it. Boxes checked is all.
I'm pretty much in agreement with Karsten. I had the same reaction to those dumb flashbacks: all that supposed edginess, mysteriousness and high-brow intelligence just falls away when you suddenly treat your audience as being unable to visually fill in the gaps for themselves -- it brought it to the level of The Sixth Sense.
WEIRD & STRANGE FILM......
DON'T watch this weird film !!
( i knew it..he was evil & the
killer......)
it was infuriating how
he killed the entire family......
but, got away..........!??
NO investigation.........
the film was vulgar, & very
strange film😮😮
Can you make a video for Napoleon if/when you see it?
planning on it yes!
yeah the scene where the reveal that he messed with felixs bike and was killed his sister and him and was pretending to type of the computer was so weird and unnecessary i actually laughed at it and don’t think i was supposed to. like weren’t we already supposed to kind of know that that was the case? kinda over explaining the obvious and treating the audience like it’s dumb but i still like the movie overall.
I LOVED this movie. It is NOT a social commentary. Remember oliver is well off himself. It is a classic thriller about manipulation shown in the female lens. Its been a long time since a movie has made me sit in my feelings of being uncomfortable and shocked me at how many twist and turns there are. Shocks that arent there just be there. Shocks that felt necessary and had substance. It doesnt throw everything into your face whatsoever. The trailer and press releases have all convinced us this would he some sort of normal sappy school drama, a homoerotic dark romance, or a devious eat the rich drama, but it isnt. It knows what the audience expects and refuses to give it to them. It is absurd, stylish, and weird in the best of ways. I found the characters to be full and real. The reason why oliver is so mystifying in the end, why he does things we think arent in character, explains itself in the end. we know nothing about this character we have sat down for 2 hrs with. Nothing we thought we knew. The movie tricks you constantly. The aspect ratio feels claustrophobic because the movie itself is stuffy and claustrophobic, its too close for comfort and is hard to breathe. this movie presented itself as if it were an old fantasy (more on this later) and the aspect ratio also helps with this (as well as the stylish intro and etc). it firs perfectly in line with the setting of a deadpan upper class traditional british setting. It really felt like an odd book youd find in the corner of oxfords old library that you’d write a thesis about.
The eroticism and etc were all lovingly placed and I did not think this movie was trying to be edgy just because whats so ever. The disturbing scenes felt necessary. It explained parts of this character we knew nothing about. We only see glimpses of the real narrative through these scenes. We are as bamboozled as felix’s family is. I loved that it spun a femme fatale character around and showed eroticism in such a delicate lens. The director purposefully put a male in a role that if a women were in, we have to ask if would we be as disturbed. Unlike other edgy erotic pieces of media, like the idol, the movie succeeds in what it wanted to. Ask yourself if anyone was objectified, if anyone was sexualized unnecessarily, or if we even saw any genitalia (except for that ending) The movie isnt supposed to be cool, oliver isnt cool. His scene where he types on the laptop was extremely lame.. but he is lame as a person and it felt real. The movie felt like a gothic thriller book turned into an indie arthouse film. It was not a trendy eat the rich movie but rather a psychological digest on olivers character and more importantly the female lens in eroticism. it is slow and lusty. it is hard to watch but not hard to enjoy. it is fun. it confronts you with so much without saying anything at all.
I think too many people are perceiving this movie incorrectly. I see a lot of complaints on its realism or etc. But you do not expect an extremely factual and objective biopic if that biopic was made by david lynch. How can you expect this film to be something its not? Can a movie not be stylish anymore without being torn apart as some sort of clout chaser? This movie solidifies what the rest of the directors very young filmography can grow up to become. Her unique identity. The problem is i do not see everyone being able to digest this movie. I do not expect everyone to enjoy Blue Velvet for example. But those who do, will.
I thought it was gonna be a Gay-Romance movie with a dash of Thriller. Like if Call me by Your Name mixed with Bones & All. Which ig it is?
(or Handsome Devil mixed with Gone Girl and American Psycho)
I’m definitely watching this.
Clearly doesn’t understand the movie, it does not set out to be many different things
i usually agree with karsten, so it was fun to totally disagree with his opinion on this. specifically on the 4:3, emerald and the cinematographer’s intention was to focus on the intimacy and bright bits in a lot of shadow. not being able to drown in the lush scenery is entirely the point.
Instead of watching this, I’m just gonna revisit Brideshead
This movie makes me think of American Psycho, like it's a black comedy that makes fun of rich people.
And I don't think the flashbacks really happened. It's just what Oliver wants the audience to believe. He is a liar after all.
I sometimes felt the movie was trying to be too artistic with its cinematography and they focused on that more than the plot. I would have liked some scenes to feel more gritty and look more realistic instead of just too beautiful all the time. I also felt that some of the scenes were too weird and gross and so were uncomfortable to watch, especially in the cinema with my family. 2/5 for me.
Sounds like it's just not your cup of tea, there are plenty of marvel films out each year for you to enjoy.
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Gratuitous, weird, sexual scenes detracted from the personality disorder and psychopathic implications of the theme of the film. Pure shock value that lessens the overall impact of the film... Absurd failure... (plus Barry is not an attractive man)...
You should watch the holdovers. It's pretty fantastic!
he already has
I was so excited about this movie but I was very disappointed. The ending is exactly what I expected it to be, even from the trailers. I don’t know why people are saying this film is a masterpiece & that it had so many twists and turns. I guess the movie had twists but they all led to the same very predictable & obvious ending, which is boring. People compare this film to The Talented Mr. Ripley which I do not understand AT ALL. What made that movie so good is that the audience never knew what Tom Ripley was going to do next or how far he would go. Oliver’s motives in Saltburn are predictable and they really don’t make sense, in my opinion. Oliver isn’t poor or lower class. We see that he comes from a wealthy background too, so his only motivation for vengeance is because Felix ignored him sometimes……….until he didn’t and invited Oliver to spend the summer with his family. Unlike in the talented Mr. Ripley, Tom is actually extremely poor & has to work multiple jobs just to survive to the next day. Tom idolizes the rich but he also hates and is offended by their easy & carefree lifestyle that wasn’t earned and taken for granted. Also it’s very clear that Tom Ripley is romantically attracted to Dickie and most of Tom’s attraction to Dickie, comes from Dickie’s wealthy and lavish lifestyle. So Tom’s actions towards Dickie Greenleaf make sense.
But again what was Oliver’s motivation for all of this? Yes he inherited money but he was already wealthy so why does that matter??? However, I liked the cinematography and the acting.
This movie gives society vibes
I didn't like this film, for some reason it doesn't "disgust me" or creeps me out. It was badly written so that the people already understand what is going on too early. If you don't write properly to do a good pay off it doesn't work. Maybe I'm too mature for this, but I didn't find the scenes so shocking. Maybe because they didnt build the characters well enough to make them shocking. A film like "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover" succeded much better in this.
This movie ripped off the talented mr ripley.