If one adjective can describe Barry Keoghan, the most appropriate word would have to be “otherworldly.”
The 31-year-old Irish actor is a rather unconventional leading man type that Hollywood has discovered in recent years. Indeed, his pale, boyish features make him look far younger than his age, while he seems like an old soul at times. Since his moving performance as a doomed civilian with PTSD in the World War II epic Dunkirk, the budding thespian has gone on to play rather eclectic roles: an inexperienced soldier in Chernobyl, a shady thief in The Greek Knight, the morally-conflicted superhero Druid in Eternals, an abused young man in The Banshees of Inisherin, and The Joker in The Batman. Yet he has never really gotten to shine in a leading film role of his own.
Until now.
Saltburn is the latest offering from rising director Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Women). It is unique in its mixture of black comedy and psychological horror. Written, directed, and produced by Fennell, the movie has elements of Knives Out’s black comedy, and it also possesses a social commentary angle reminiscent of Jordan Peele’s Get Out and Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning thriller Parasite. Some people find it very dark and disturbing, while others view the film as hilarious in all its satire. Others might find it hard to wrap their hands around the nature of the story. Perhaps there is some truth to all three perceptions; Saltburn is all of these things in one form or another.
Set in 2006, Oliver (Keoghan) is an undergraduate at Oxford University. Although he does well in class, his seemingly working-class background makes him feel like an outsider and misfit among the student body. He also finds it hard to fit in with the other students, and he’s also oblivious to subtleties and upper-class attitudes. Things take an interesting turn when another student, the popular rich kid Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi), strikes up a bond with him. As their friendship develops, is discovered that Oliver’s family life is one of poverty and drug abuse. While other students don’t take to Oliver, Felix stays friendly and sympathetic throughout this period. Eventually, Oliver’s presence wears Felix down and annoys him after a brief argument.
Upon hearing about the death of Oliver’s father, Felix feels guilty for his rebuking of Oliver. Sensing that his classmate has nowhere else to go, Felix invites him to come over for the summer. Excited at the opportunity, Oliver takes him up on the offer. Upon arriving at the Saltburn estate, he meets Felix’s parents- Sir James (Richard Grant) and Lady Elspeth (Rosamund Pike), and the vast splendor of the mansion is another amazing sight for him to behold. He quickly turns his gaze towards Felix’s sister Venetia (Alison Oliver), whom he seduces after a brief time.
As time passes, it becomes apparent to everyone that Oliver enjoys his stay at Saltburn a little too much, because he becomes obsessed with the idea of staying longer. Felix’s cousin Farleigh (Archie Madekwe) is also unnerved by Oliver, also having studied alongside him at Oxford, and voices his suspicions about him. When Felix goes to visit Oliver’s mother, he makes a startling discovery that upends everything he believes about his ersatz classmate: Oliver is not actually poor or from the working class. Nor is his father actually deceased. Despite the revelation, Felix remains polite and even sympathetic to Oliver while quietly asking him to leave. Shortly afterward, a series of odd events begin plaguing the Catton family, and nobody is certain of whether Oliver is behind this. Yet there are two questions on their minds; what does Oliver want, and what is really going on?
Keoghan shines in the role of Oliver. He is both captivating and enigmatic in his presence. While he may be too old to be an undergraduate student, the actor’s youthful looks help make him seem believable. There is the question of his motives in the story; is he just pursuing wealth and higher social status, or is he harbouring deep, romantic feelings for Felix? Of course, this is never fully explained, thus leaving Oliver’s reasons not fully explained. It brings to mind Matt Damon’s subtle yet chilling performance as social-climbing con artist Tom Ripley in The Talented Mr. Ripley. Regardless, this is a breakthrough performance for Keoghan, and he has proven himself as a formidable leading man.
Elordi does a fine job as Felix. Having played troubled, insecure types in Euphoria and Priscilla, he’s more affable and even wholesome at times. While Felix seems like a typical spoiled rich guy at first, he has good intentions and genuinely wants to have a friendship with Oliver. His performance does echo that of a young Jude Law circa The Talented Mr. Ripley. As certain revelations are uncovered, Felix begins to question as to what is real and what is not real. One could argue he is among the most sympathetic characters in the movie.
The rest of the cast is in top form. Grant is splendid as the raffish, eccentric Sir James, and Pike is both likable and sympathetic as Elspeth. Alison Oliver does well in depicting Venetia’s interest and confusion, and she serves as the audience surrogate as Oliver’s complicated, duplicitous nature comes to light. Even Madekwe is perfectly cast as the skeptical Farleigh to Oliver’s seemingly convincing tales of woe.
Fennell’s script is full of intrigue and suspense, as well as a dose of black comedy. One never knows where the story is going until the point where Oliver’s true nature begins to emerge. The director-writer-producer appears to be critiquing both opportunistic social climbers and the ignorance of snooty upper-class snobs; viewing both sides as hypocritical, makes for an interesting commentary. Indeed, the plot feels like something right out of Knives Out or Parasite, in which viewers are guessing what is going to happen next. Either way, the story will keep people wondering what the outcome will be. At 131 minutes in length, the film does not feel slow or dragging in places.
Overall, Saltburn is excellent. Keoghan has branched out as a dramatic actor, and this film serves as proof he can carry a movie. Elordi, Grant, Pike, and the supporting cast are also solid in their roles. Fennell’s direction is swift, effective, and focused on the characters and storyline. This reviewer can predict that the director and leading man could work well in the future together on a second film collaboration. Four out of four stars.
