I was quite nervous when I saw this. I was expecting a sort of hybrid of "Another Country" meets "Brideshead Revisited" as the story of "Ollie" (Barry Keoghan) and his aristocratic pal "Felix" (Jacob Elordi) unfolds. Both are at Oxford university, but the former man is very much a poor relation of his well-heeled contemporaries. One afternoon, though, he comes to the aid of "Felix" lending him his bike, and what now ensues is a friendship that sees the two gradually start to bond and for the latter to invite his new friend to his eponymous stately pile as a guest of his mother (Rosamund Pike) and father (Richard E. Grant). Tagging along throughout this experience is the slightly malevolent and jealous "Farleigh" (Archie Madekwe) as their summer vacillates from the hedonistic and enjoyable to the ghastly and tragic. It's a bit of a slow starter, but once we arrive at the ancestral pile the story starts to gather pace and "Ollie" proves to be quite adept at navigating - even manipulating - the frequently quite treacherous environment in which he finds himself. It is definitely too dialogue heavy, but Keoghan is good here and there is quite an effectively building degree of menace as we start to realise that maybe things aren't all quite what they seem. I found Madekwe also rather good as the odious hanger-on (only a posher one) and Carey Mulligan walks quite a characterful tightrope too. The photography and aesthetic of the film along with Anthony Willis's score all add a degree of richness to a story that isn't as derivative as I feared. I can't think it's a film I will remember in a few years, but it is well worth a watch as Mr Keoghan continues on his journey to what must be greater success.

**Overall** **Entertaining** This movie was a refreshing experience. Well directed with tight plot. Leaving the viewer always wondering what’s going to happen next? There are some potholes and forced nudity (incongruent), but the good plot makes up for these minor shortcomings. Overall, I enjoyed this movie 7/10

I'm disturbed. Outstandingly disturbed, mind you. It is very out there as it features some uncomfortable moments, but that's never a bad thing if it's done right... and boy is it here. The film does an excellent job at making it all fit, which is actually quite impressive. Main plot-wise, it's not a hard one to predict... or at least not quite as unpredictable as the film possibly thinks it is based on the 'reveals' (?) at the end, but again: never a bad thing if done correctly. The main takeaway from all this is certainly the unsettling stuff. This 2023 production also holds fantastic cast performances. Barry Keoghan is top notch, I've seen various people online rave about him as an actor but I hadn't really seen it until now. Jacob Elordi merits praise too, as does Rosamund Pike - another one I haven't previously been too keen on, though she is fun here. In fact, on paper it's an iffy cast to me. In reality, the cast are perfect. Credit also to Richard E. Grant, Alison Oliver and Archie Madekwe. No doubt, <em>'Saltburn'</em> is a great movie! A must-watch, I'd say. Emerald Fennell is two for two with me now, after I also highly enjoyed <em>'<a href="https://letterboxd.com/film/promising-young-woman/" rel="nofollow">Promising Young Woman</a>'</em> <em>(same rating, fwiw)</em>.

I'd seen this film advertised at my local cinema but written it off as the description, in not giving anything away, sounded like Brideshead re-revisited. Then having heard some hype I couldn't see how it could be rated 15. But you know how in films, people would kiss, then suddenly be lying in bed smoking; as adults, we’ve been there, and we know they’ve just had sex, but how could a censor or anyone argue with what was actually shown. If you watch ‘The Good Place’ or ‘The Simpsons’, there are parts where you laugh along with the writers but you know it’ll go over kids’ heads. This was definitely a 15 in what it showed but I blushed at what was inferred. Having heard of ‘the bath scene’ or the ‘graveyard scene’, I was concerned, and more surprised by the 'vampire' scene and that the necrophilia actually occurred elsewhere. Or was that just my perverse adult imagination!