I had no idea what Saltburn was about. I have heard about this movie in reference to the Academy Awards, and I do think that I knew, deep in the recesses of my brain, that Barry Keoghan was in the film. Other than that, I had no idea. I do not even remember ever seeing a trailer.

This was a wild trip. It was dark, demented and disturbing. There were many moments that shocked me or made me grimace. It also has one of the most repulsive characters I have seen in a movie in a long time. I won’t spoil which character it is because there are several options but this character is just horrible.

According to IMDB, “Struggling to find his place at Oxford University, student Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) finds himself drawn into the world of the charming and aristocratic Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi), who invites him to Saltburn, his eccentric family’s sprawling estate, for a summer never to be forgotten.”

Barry Keoghan does an astounding job with his performance. He takes his complicated character and makes him relatable. Jacob Elordi, who we just saw playing Elvis Presley in Priscilla, played Felix and brings so much charm and charisma even though there is an uncertainty to exactly what this character’s deal was.

The eccentric characters that were see once Oliver and Felix get to Saltburn are fascinating and include some exceptional acting. Richard E. Grant, Rosamund Pike, Paul Rhys, Carey Mulligan, Archie Madekwe, Sadie Soverall, and Alison Oliver.

The film is very unsettling and I did not expect the way the plot developed. Emerald Fennell, who recently directed Promising Young Woman, does a great job here in a film that is truly wild.

4.25 stars