Blood on the Dance Floor: The Unhinged Nature of Saltburn

Did you love the Brideshead movie and the Talented Mr. Ripley written by Patricia Highsmith? If so, then Saltburn might be for you! It comes with a fair warning: some stuff might be a little risque for your liking, so bring a friend along! If you love unhinged things, though – then that’s even more of an indicator that this movie is for you! 

In this article, we’ve compiled why you should watch Saltburn! 

Execution

If you’re into casino games, Saltburn is similar. Emerald Fennell did Promising Young Woman and executed this movie. She gets everything down on this movie—the sign of a good film. Saltburn is artsy but capable of being several things at once.  But if there’s one thing that Saltburn is not, it is that it isn’t pretentious. 

After Oxford uni, Felix (played by Jacob Elordi) invites Oliver (Barry Keoghan) to stay with him during the summer break at his family’s estate at Saltburn; this was filmed at Drayton House in Northamptonshire. 

There are a lot of screwed-up moments amidst class, wit, humor, and darkness, and filled with an exquisite cast, such as Rosamund Pike, Barry Keoghan, Richard E. Grant, and Carey Mulligan. 

And the cinematography? Thanks to the old-style film camera and color grading, you’re back in the nineties! 

Literary References

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh’s 1946 novel has had many iterations. One of the most popular and recent is the 2008 starrer with Ben Whishaw and Matthew Goode. The naming conventions are sly and indicative, like the Felix – and Oliver with the Dickensian twist. 

However, Saltburn’s twists and turns are great, especially with Oliver being more different than he presents himself. He’s not put together, nor is he some pathetic orphan Annie – the man is a mess! 

However, Fennell significantly derives the shadow of Brideshead Revisited. The novel is about beauty, desire, and theology and a product of its time: hardship and the fading aristocracy following the world wars. However, Slatubrn’s setting is deliberate so she can help undercut the glamor of the aristocracy. Oliver’s intentions and actions are based on raw instinct: the need to fulfill what he has been denied, thanks to his lack of social power. Due to his being middle class, he feels rejected by many things. 

The Acting

Emerald Fennell is one of those directors who knows how to bring the best out of their actors. The actors do a fantastic job portraying their characters. Jacob Elordi and Barry Keoghan are unique talents who help make the movie viewing more immersive. Every actor is so damn convincing that it’s hard to tell who is good and trustworthy – and the opposite. 

They’re practical tools for showing that the genre is terrible—and then we’ve got our protagonist, Oliver, who is awful, boring, and the worst because he gives in to his unhinged tendencies.

Wrapping Up

Saltburn is a wild ride, and you’re welcome to stay along. It’s got a great cast, a good director, and an interesting twist on the genre. Enjoy your watching

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