Saltburn recently became available to stream on Prime Video. While it may seem like the perfect film to stream with your family sometime over the next week – it’s Golden Globe-nominated, Oscar-baity, and even has a brief Christmas scene – take this as your official warning that you should not watch Saltburn with anyone you’re remotely related to.
‘Saltburn’ Premise
Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) and Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi) meet at Oxford in the mid-2000s. After a Good Samaritan meet-cute, Oliver and Felix become fast friends, opening up to each other about the rawest parts of their lives. When Oliver suffers a family tragedy just before break, Felix invites him to Saltburn, his family palace, for the summer, and it proves to be memorable and intense for all involved.
In addition to enrapturing performances from Keoghan and Elordi, we’re gifted the sublime work of Rosamund Pike and a brief yet notable appearance from Carey Mulligan. Oscar winner Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman) further proves she’s a triple threat with artistic direction and a biting script. The costumes are beautiful, the set is stunning, and the soundtrack is perfect. Per the trailer and the synopsis, Salburn is nothing more than a thrilling commentary on class and privilege. How could any of that be uncomfortable to watch with your parents?
Disturbing Scenes Detract from Overall Impact
If you’ve heard anything about Saltburn, it’s likely two words: bathtub scene. And yes, there is a bathtub scene in this film that will test even those with iron stomachs, but what those two words really mean is that there are multiple instances of disturbing imagery in this movie that you will not soon forget. Add to that list the graveyard scene and the vampire scene for good measure, because any one of those will put strange tension between you and your relatives if you watch this movie together.
Still from ‘Saltburn’
It’s a shame that the most upsetting parts of Saltburn are what’s driving the discourse around this film because it’s otherwise entertaining, surprising, and thought-provoking. Had those scenes been toned down or eliminated entirely, the film still would’ve reached its goal, and we’d be recommending that everyone watch Saltburn together before the year ends.
Don’t take this as a warning not to watch the movie at all, though. While those scenes are unnecessary and unsettling, they’re not long. You should watch Saltburn, just be selective about who you’re watching it with.
Saltburn is streaming now on Prime Video.