Is ‘Saltburn’ A Twisted knockoff of ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’?

"Saltburn" is twisted and dark, but I love it. It's genuinely captivating and intriguing, and its ultimate ending might surprise you with a solid satirical undertone toward the affluent class. On one side, the costumes and settings are picturesque, always stunning, yet they're intermittently interrupted by moments that feel "twisted." The pacing is good, the plot consistently engaging, and Barry Keoghan's portrayal of Oliver Quick is perplexing, leaving us feeling like we have yet to decipher or understand him by the end entirely.

The film notably carries shades of "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and "Parasite," narrating the story of a cleverly greedy commoner drawn to and gradually infiltrated by an affluent family, showcasing a pathological mix of jealousy and infatuation. Barry Keoghan's enigmatic performance, the director's storytelling finesse, and the successful character construction make it challenging for the audience to guess the truth from the start. Like Oliver Quick, they can't help but be drawn to Felix, played by Jacob Elordi, and his palace-like mansion. The latter half of the movie gradually raises the hairs on your skin.

Speaking of which, I hadn't realized before how captivating Jacob Elordi is. Thanks to the film's female director, Emerald Fennell, he's portrayed beautifully, with long, flowing hair, white shirts, revealing a bit of chest—almost every scene is dreamy, successfully crafting a highly attractive character. He's like a superstar, captivating to both genders. There are a few "stalkers" spying on him, waiting by doors or windows, displaying people's irresistible cravings for beauty and wealth. Their fascination reaches dangerous levels, while he remains relatively unsuspecting, often attending parties and mingling with various people. From his entrance, you know he'll be the one to be exploited.

Felix's magnetic and naively carefree nature aligns perfectly with his parents and sister. This family is reminiscent of the wealthy family in "Parasite," all innocent, quirky, lacking common sense, and only using money to solve problems, showcasing many characteristics typical of the wealthy. Especially Rosamund Pike, playing Elspeth Catton, with her unfiltered words being comedic highlights, stealing the scene. Her previous roles have been primarily serious or reserved. Still, this time, her uninhibited, naive, and even simple-minded demeanor contrasts with an entertaining speech rhythm, a rather remarkable performance that deserves another nomination.

Unlike "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and "Parasite," Barry Keoghan's Oliver Quick in "Saltburn" is even more twisted and dark and involves multiple sexual desires, often doing shocking things, even nauseating. This is a deeply hidden, extremely dark, and complex character, utilizing a lot of sexual content to depict him. I assure you it's hard to determine his sexual orientation after watching; sometimes, his fascination seems like impulses of love and sex, but it could all be part of a pretense. Hence, this film feels much broader in scale than "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and "Parasite," bolder yet more appealing.

This character is the most twisted and complex I've seen on the big screen this year. Emerald Fennell's previous film, "Promising Young Woman," was also a dark movie, prompting much discussion and controversy, and this one can be even darker. Like "Promising Young Woman," even if the film appears unbelievable, in the end, you realize it's merely a satirical fable criticizing societal realities, though not always viable.

Moreover, the cinematography is impressive, skillfully using shadows and wide angles to create a visually stunning impact. Even if this film doesn't win awards during the award season, it will be hard to forget.