Saltburn (2023)
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A scholarship student's obsession with a wealthy peer leads him into the decadent, dangerous inner workings of an aristocratic family's estate.
The story
In 2006, Oliver Quick, a scholarship student at the University of Oxford, struggles to navigate the nuances of upper-class life. He forms a close bond with Felix Catton, a wealthy and popular student who takes pity on Oliver's troubled background. When Oliver claims his father has died, Felix invites him to spend the summer at his family's eccentric country estate, Saltburn. There, Oliver enters a world of immense wealth and luxury, where he becomes increasingly fixated on Felix. As the summer progresses, Oliver's presence within the aristocratic circle creates a growing tension between his fabricated identity and the reality of the Catton family's opulent lifestyle.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 2006, Oliver Quick, a scholarship student at Oxford, lies about his upbringing to win the favor of Felix Catton and his wealthy family. During a summer at the Saltburn estate, Oliver's obsession with Felix grows, leading him to engage in increasingly erratic and manipulative behaviors toward Felix's family members, including his sister Venetia and cousin Farleigh. After a series of escalating incidents, including the deaths of Felix and Venetia, Oliver remains at the estate. In 2022, after the death of the patriarch, Oliver encounters Lady Elspeth, who is terminally ill. He eventually reveals to her that he orchestrated the deaths of Felix and Venetia and manipulated the family's assets. After her death, he inherits the estate and the fortune, ultimately taking control of the manor.
- First release year
- 2023
- Runtime (minutes)
- 131
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Emerald Fennell
- Writers
- Emerald Fennell · writer
- Cast and characters
- Barry Keoghan · Oliver Quick; Jacob Elordi · Felix Catton; Rosamund Pike · Lady Elspeth Catton; Richard E. Grant · Sir James Catton; Alison Oliver · Venetia; Archie Madekwe · Farleigh; Carey Mulligan · Pamela
- Genres
- dark comedy; thriller; comedy-drama; psychological thriller
- Themes
- excess; obsession; social class; power; desire; seduction
- Tone and mood
- dark; Gothic; satirical
- Premise and plot tags
- psychopath; sociopath; dysfunctional family; country house
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews, particularly for the performances of Keoghan and Pike, production design, score, and cinematography.
- Reported review scores
- PostTrak · score: 75% · scale: percent
- Production trivia
- The film was shot in a 4:3 aspect ratio to create a 'peeping in' effect.; The song 'Murder on the Dancefloor' became a trending track on TikTok.; The film was described by the filmmaker as a 'vampire movie'.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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