Was Saltburn Ending's FANTASTIC or too Far-Fetched??? I know I'm negative on it in this video, but I really want to hear why people do or don't agree. Let me know!

Are the last 7 minutes really a twist? The fact that everyone dies immediately after some kind of intense, call out style conversation with Oliver makes it pretty obvious they’re being killed 🤷🏻‍♂️

I feel like the movie does give us glimpses into Oliver's disdain towards Felix. That scene where Felix and Oliver were hanging out in Felix's dorm room is what comes to mind. To me, this scene when I first watched it felt a little out of nowhere. Now thinking back, I think Oliver showing disgust at how lazy Felix is in cleaning up after himself and the smell of the room bothers him so much because it speaks to how accustomed Felix is in not having to clean up after himself. Also the body language in the scene. Oliver seems to grow more annoyed looking at Felix all sprawled out on the floor, languidly unbothered by the mess growing around him. Just how I saw it, anyway

Did they not do an autopsy on Elspeth? Oliver was the only one with her at the end and her breathing tube was extubated, leading to her death. She dies and he inherits everything because she signed it off before her death. It’s easy to determine foul play.

What’s weird is that this movie was so REAL except for Oliver’s characterisation. I went to Oxford (recent graduate) and the first half hour of the movie was really, really jarring and uncanny to me because it was literally exactly what my Oxford experience was like. It didn’t help that most of the scenes were filmed in my college and in my favourite spots, literally down to my favourite tree stump 😭 But I KNEW (still know) people like Felix and Farleigh at Oxford. They were real characters. On the other hand, Oliver never seemed real. His character didn’t entirely make sense, it was so inconsistent.

Psychopaths know that they need to mask their tendencies, but they need someone to know that they have masterfully planned and executed a plot. The more sinister the better. This is why it was such a great idea that the writer had the first person Oliver met at college tell him that he's a genius. And then he needed to prove that he was a genius, but when Oscar wouldn't give him a sum he yelled at the top of his lungs to give him a sum so that he could prove himself a genius. This goes to show that geniuses also need people to know that they are a genius. The exposition at the end of the movie was Oliver proving to us that he's a genius. We started the movie with a man needing to prove he was a genius and ended it with the protagonist proving to his audience that he is a genius - in his mind. After all just because you can multiply quickly doesn't mean you're a genius. And now I think I've said the word "genius" enough times to prove that I am not one. 😆

My theory is that Emerald Fennel wanted to create an anti-establishment “eat the rich” type of narrative, but she doesn’t know how to write middle class people. Her upper class characters were incredible, but I didn’t relate to Ollie at any point.

I loved the ending. Oliver wanted to possess the whole family, and in the end, he did (stones and all)

Had oliver just married felix's mom and got the estate through marriage would have made the ending more believable. Her just signing it away was absurd.

The lack of ambiguity in the end ruined it for me, too. The second big twist at the end didn't work for me for another, different reason. I was only surprised by the first twist that he misrepresented his family background. The final twist that he was manipulating the family was obvious to me from the moment he gave his little veiled confession to Elsbeth when he was laying into Pamela to get the family to trust him. He was obviously scheming and shmoozing. The final twist montage that reveals every little detail just felt condescending like it was overly impressed with itself and was begging me to be impressed too. I respect ambition. I give a but of a free pass to anything that tries to swing for the fences even if it doesn't always land. What i don't like is when something is up its own backside, and Saltburn absolutely was. The ending made it feel like everything leading up to it was more concerned with using cheap shock value to get people talking (which seems to have worked) instead of concerned with telling a nuanced story that's trying to make the audience to speculate and ask questions. Not everything needs clean cut answers, and the fact that the ending feot the need to give answers to what already seemed obvious through context clues suggests to me that the storyteller doesn't trust that the audience is capable of thinking and figuring things out for themselves. Subtlety is a virtue, and while I'm not averse to purposeful and well executed shock value, the ending's complete lack of subtelty just felt a bit cheap.

Had he not confessed his crimes to Elspeth on her deathbed. Had he merely said that he hated them all but couldn´t keep away from them, it would´ve been perfect. The audience would been forced to project themselves into the story, and some would condemn him while others would say just because he hated them doesn´t mean anything concrete: some people hate the environment they live in while still benefiting from it.

the story isn't trying to be a "eat the rich" class commentary, it's just a twisted mindfuck tale about desire, power & wealth

I thought him doing the grave would have been a better and more heartbreaking ending but the ending we got was at least fun and crazy.

The way I understood this movie is he never actually planned taking the manor for himself. He planned creating a friendship with Felix and nothing else. He was genuinely obsessed with him & being his BBF. Once Felix found out it was all planned and manipulated and that he'd never get his friendship again, that moment in the maze is when Oliver changed his plans.

I believe Elspeth would be interested in the tragic details of this poor, poor rich family, even if it were her own. A little gossip on the way out. And I think Ollie honors that.

Towards the middle I realized we are actually watching the villain this whole time. So the ending wasnt surprising to me. It was just confirming to me he really is the villain.

I agree with your ending line of “I intend to take care of Saltburn” and maybe the funeral but also people are saying drop the flashback and keep the dance sequence and I totally agree. I thought Venetia dying in that same bath tub immediately after we see them speaking was all but confirmation that Ollie was doing the killing trying to become the defacto heir. Even the cut to elspeth in a coma was fine confirmation that he was behind everything.

I like to believe that Oliver is completely unreliable and just imagines in retrospect that he masterminded everything. 😂

I think it's worth noting that Emerald Fennel has explicitly stated that Oliver was NOT a mustache twirling villain who planned it all from the jump. She has said he has acted on several desires in the moment, which have escalated to the next thing and the next thing and the next. Each time he HAS been manipulative and twisted a particular outcome, but they are individual incidents that escalate. NOT somehow Oliver wanting Saltburn from the start. I would even go as far to say that he only really starts wanting Saltburn when Farleigh rubs it in that this is "his house".

I want to point something very specific out. During Oliver’s reaction to Pamala’s death, you can subtly see him smile. It’s a subtle twitch of the mouth, yet clearly an expression of happiness.

I don't think the film was about subverting expectations. I think, in every way, it was about surfaces and lust. Emerald Fennell herself said you weren't supposed to be surprised by what happens, you know Oliver is untrustworthy from his first sentence. The whole text was right on the surface to ogle and covet, with no depth at all, and that is the point. I read Oliver's confused look at the news of Dear Pamela's death as a re-calibration. He was still learning the family at that point, and I think their reaction set a new floor for their callousness. ETA: That said, I agree with you that the bones of a much more compelling film are close at hand with this one.

I don't think Oliver's expression after learning of Pamela's death was of emotional conflict, I think it was surprise. He planned for everything but this wasn't part of it and there was a flicker of disappointment on his face.

Thank you for this video because I've also been sort of stuck on the ending of saltburn, and this has helped put into words why that is. I think it was mainly the flashback scenes and how they give an air of "it was all part of his master plan", which I felt didn't really make much sense in relation to the rest of the movie. The ending/flashbacks makes Oliver seem like he knew what he was plotting this entire time, as if everything was falling perfectly into place, when so much of the movie was Oliver discovering things and almost realizing his potential as a cunning manipulator. Also with the flashbacks, it makes you question more like "ok wait, did Oliver always know saltburn existed and he was trying to get close to felix in order to get the house?" that doesnt entirely explain the lust/love he seems to have for felix. I just agree with you in that the ending doesn't leave much up to interpretation, and instead makes us see Oliver as some evil mastermind rather than a manipulative psychopath realizing his power throughout the film.

He doesn't just throw Pamela under the bus, he picked up on Elspeth's frustration with Pamela constantly being around. He gave Elspeth permission to admit how she truly felt without feeling guilty about it.

IMO they could’ve shown only the bike tire puncture in the flashback at the end. That would’ve shown that this one small action lead to everything else. How one small “white lie” from a lonely teen who just wanted a friend lead to all this death and destruction. I totally agree that going farther than that with the flashbacks turned Ollie into a Bond villain rather than a normal guy who told a fib that got way out of hand and then ran with it. If they only showed the bike tire puncture, that plus the twist with the parents could still leave the viewers imagination open to interpret what else in the plot was or was not a result of Oliver‘s machinations.

I actually found Farleigh to be the most compelling character and wanted him to come out on top at the end and take Ollie down.

I think the ending act was actually great because it implored you to rewatch the movie again and see all of the examples they likely sneaked in of the interpretations towards loving and hating, and inflections and etc. etc.

Certainly agree with a lot of what's said here, Ollie was actually a pretty sympathetic character through most of the film, even after the parents reveal. But if he wasn't responsible for the deaths of Felix/his sister, who was? They both just happened to expire while he was there, seems sus! As I left the theater, I started to feel shades of "Talented Mr Ripley"... Barry's performance was first rate.

I can't say I agree completely. He reminded me immediately of Ripley. It's either because his acting was great or Russell Crowell style. He looked, acted and had the body language of a sociopath from the start. The one scene that threw me off that exact ending was when he went to the bathtub after Felix releaved himself. I can't say I loved rhe movie, but it was highly entertaining. It just felt rushed at the end

I have been waiting for someone with this take, literally watching the last bit in the theater I was completely shocked. Not shocked by the ending of "oh! it was his master plan all along!", but rather in the sense of exactly what you said, as it just didn't make sense for the movie and completely undermines the message and characters. I enjoyed the movie but was surprised by such a typical ending from an otherwise interesting film.

I liked the ending because the whole movie he wanted, wanted, wanted, to the point of becoming obsessed. But he didn't get what he wanted. Felix rejected him. The family kicked him out. No matter what role he played and how much he gave everyone what they wanted, he just reframed the narrative in the end after 15 years to make himself look like a mastermind rather than admit that he never got what he wanted. The truth is that if he couldn't have Felix like he wanted, he would just become him. That's what he made himself believe he wants. He just pretends, because everyone pretended. The family pretended they cared about people. They pretended Felix was not dead. Farley pretended that he belonged there even after being kicked out. Felix pretended that he was better than he actually was. What I thought was funny is that even when Felix is naked in Saltburn, he is trying so hard to convince himself that he belongs there and doesn't have to give anyone what they want. He can just be himself. Naked. And that he got what he wanted. That box. Saltburn. BUT you know he killed her, he's alone and there's no real reason to believe there's a happily ever after for him, but you are on his side if only a little even after he did rip out that tube out which is twisted, but it's meant to be like that. Honestly this movie reminded me a bit of Parasite which I liked too.

brilliant summation , the end felt very hollywood interference and having watched many interviews with the director you are spot on about her approach from her being more upper class herself. i feel like that is this issue in the ending, that it wasnt Ollies ending it was the directors chosen ending thrust onto the character, made it feel inconsistent.

I completely agree that the finale should have been cut to have a more profound story. With the final "reveal" it feels like Fennel didn't trust the audience enough to connect the dots together. I remeber thinking (when the first reveal happened) about every scene that made the audience (and Felix) feel bad for Oliver and thinking: "wow, Oliver really did trick us all". I even related it to The Sixth Sense's twist, where the answer is always laid before you but the story cuts and camerawork make them difficult to notice on a first watch but extremely obvious on the following ones. The finale dumbs down the story; Fennel not trusting her story enough for the audience to "get it". I wish it would have ended with Oliver on the grave and go out with a bang (literally lmao), leaving the audience wanting to re-watch the movie and look at Oliver's actions in every scene, questioning which was a performance and which was real. As a last thought, I think it would've been way better if Felix's death was left ambiguous as well. Not every "villain" has to have everything planned out, especially in a movie set in a real-world place and time. Having Oliver's dumb luck being a possibility, the story would have even more layers of profoundness showing that luck treats them all the same regardless of wealth or moral compass (reiterating your previous points).

I liked that the final 7 minute twist makes the character we're supposed to root for the 'baddie'. For me, it enhances the film's theme of the ugliness of pursuing wealth and social status. Again, in my opinion, it asked the question of 'what is all that wealth worth if this is what you had to do to get it?'. And if you still want an 'eat the rich' slant to it, then look at the fact that the relatives of Saltburn just had to be born, where as Oliver had to murder and scheme and sacrifice so much in order to have the same as them. I also liked how the Oliver we see for most of the film is different from the 'actual Oliver' at the end mirrors the 'keeping up appearances' that the Saltburn family are obsessed with. I do understand and agree with your thoughts about the exposition horizon though.

Man, you totally beat me to it! Thank you for making this video, because I felt the exact same way! It bugged me so much, that I wrote my own little essay right after finishing the movie. You literally just voiced everything that I thought was wrong with an otherwise brilliant film. Beautiful video, keep it up and you've got a new subscriber. Thank you!

Completely agree. Up until the final reveal I was caught up in trying to figure Oliver out. The finale took all of the mystery away and it's made it so that I have no interest in re-watching. Where as I think I would have re-watched it otherwise, to try to further explore his character and the mystery.

When you first watch this thru you think, "Wow he's been playing them all along" then you think about it and you kind of realize that the writer mixed two different villains together, in the first part he seems to be an obsessed psychopath wanting to be part of this family, the two weird scenes with the Bath tub and the fresh grave (this last one Way over the top by the way) support this. Then the wrap up paint him as a sociopathic grifter. And I am left thinking "pick a psycho and stick with it" Good video thanks for sharing.

I feel like the scene with Pamela isn’t him showing empathy or any other charismatic feeling but just processing information and figuring out how to better blend into the family. And he’s aided in that when Felix is like don’t bring it up anywhere else and then he lives through that when everyone would rather talk about the weather or very quickly dismiss her in conversation. I feel like that scene shows a change in goal. Where he was obsessed with Felix because it was easy to be close with him, apear to be dependent to him, to wanting to take over the lifestyle of the family as it was easy to understand what who had importance and who needed what to feel a need to have him around. Also when the dad offered Oliver money I wonder if he took some kind of bribe. I feel like yes he could’ve but also not taking any money would’ve been even more interesting because it’s like well if you are struggling and dealing with things so badly it’d make sense (in the family’s eyes) to just accept something and in the dads case to especially get him the hell out of the house

I completely disagree. The ending of Saltburn felt, to me, like when your therapist points out patterns of self-destructive behaviour that you were sort-of aware of but didn't fully want to acknowledge, and then you go "oooohhhh", you kind of knew, but having another person make you confront it makes it different in some way. The explicit explanation of the ending makes all the viewers have to acknowledge what happened in no uncertain terms. It also shows how repression can manifest into very real endings. It is important that we know Oliver is cunning and calculating. On a second viewing, it is interesting to try and pinpoint exactly when Oliver turns from a manipulative liar to a calculating murderer. I think the ambiguity you mention as the film unfolds still holds even with the last 7 minutes. I don't think the end shows us what Oliver has been all along, it shows what he is destined to turn into.

I 100% agree with you. It took a very thoughtful film, full of subtlety and nuance, and then just went "Ahaaahhh, bet you never saw THAT coming?" To me, it shows a lack of confidence. The funny thing is, this film could be recut easily and would be much more effective for it. The last 7 minutes could have been a deleted alternative ending, I would bet that a lot of people would find it interesting, but detracting from the film: 'I really enjoyed this ending but I can see why they didn't use it' kinda thing. I used to get frustrated with films that were ambiguous, but it really does depend on the subjects covered and the themes explored, and these themes are very strong in their own right, with no definitive answer needed... more a meditation. This film deserved some ambiguity so that it lived on long after you finish viewing it. "All my friends Hate Me" is a similar film, but executed more confidently in my opinion.

Totally agree with this. Unfortunately, too many directors have little faith in their audience and demonstrate this by having to spell out HOW Oliver manipulated the family and showing how he REALLY is a bad guy, rather than leaving ambiguities as to the method or motivation. The latter of which is far more interesting and thought provoking. The last few minutes deflated what was very compelling story.

Saltburn is my favorite movie of 2023. I do wish the ending had been left more ambiguous. I expected the movie to end when Oliver was told by Felix’s father that his presence at Saltburn was no longer welcome. I think a final shot of Oliver returning to his parent’s home to spend the rest of the summer would have been a good way to end it. Still, I love the movie as it is!

I literally just finished watching the movie and you posted this lol. I really liked the film and I was surprised by the ending, but in the end, I do agree a more subtle one would've worked better

Very well put! I've been having a hard time properly phrasing my qualms with the ending but this does it perfectly. I had specifically noticed reason one but the other two are just as apt.

i want to know how did Elspeth got sick and how the police did t investigates the deaths

I LOVED the ending!! Especially his dance.

I couldn't tell if the writer/director thought the end was a twist as it was VERY clear Oliver was killing them. The ending would have been more interesting if they didn't play it out with some big confession and showing. It would have felt so much darker and interesting if they just left a bunch of the details in the dark and just showed him dancing at the end. It would have cleared up any question and make him seem so much more sinister. If they really wanted a twist ending, they could have shown Oliver to be completely innocent of the actual murders. Edit: wrote this comment before getting through the video... yeah on the same page.

I totally agree! Thank you for your in-depth analysis! I loved your take on the movie’s unnecessary conclusion (and exactly when & why) You explain what I couldn’t put my finger on, why ultimately I felt it was a let down and I how I could have enjoyed it more without that last 7 minutes!

Great video! I had the same reaction- brilliant movie except for the ending. I disagree that the ending is really even a "second twist". Is there a viewer in the world who wasn't already suspecting that Oliver had something to do with the email to the auction house, after all the manipulating that Oliver had been engaging with on screen the whole time? And then when the deaths start piling up after Oliver's big secret was revealed, could there possibly be a single person in the world that didn't already suspect that Oliver was behind them? But without the atrocious ending, the viewer could have spent days reflecting on when and where Oliver "turned". Had it started relatively innocently as a ploy for an in with the popular kids? Did it start with a genuine love for Felix? Was Oliver's newfound confidence a commentary on feeling empowered by proximity to the rare wealth and status of Saltburn, or was it all sociopathic manipulations from the start? Were Oliver's schemes and eventual murders at Saltburn a commentary on the insider plots of powerful people and here was an outsider "beating them at their own game", managing to kill them before they could discard him? "It was all a sociopathic masterminded plan from the start" is the worst possible explanation. It doesn't even make sense. He didn't even know Saltburn or Felix's family before he went there, and he was already planning on stealing it all from the start? How?

I absolutely loved this movie! Oliver, is the best if psychopaths! He endured every twist and turn rising above those he stepped on to get there. I love that Olive, sought them out and by every odd got everything he wanted. He always was what we see in the end however my take is that when he went into the bathwater that was the turning point of not going back. He was in love with the idea of Felix because when it came to it nothing and no one could stop him. I love the ending. I love the character and the song ties it all up for me in a bow. Thank you Sir, for your perspective.

He could never be comfortable in that house until he was the only one left and he was free to be himself without anyone judging him.

While the final scene of Oliver dancing while "Murder on the dancefloor" plays is truly iconic, meaningful and cinematically perfect, I think the ending should have culminated with Felix's death, as Oliver is thus left frustrated by killing the "perfection" he so longed for and can never be a part of.

Thank you! This is EXACTLY what put me off from an otherwise intriguing movie. The end scene was great, but I'd happily trade it in for a more ambiguous story.

I think if his monologue to a comatose Elsbeth was cut then the ending would be just fine. It was far too moustache-twirly

For me, it was very clear Olli was faking it all. But I got disappointed that the movie thought this of me "The audience won't know that it was Olli who did it all, so we must show them". This kinda ruined the ending for me, except for the dance. Like, what if we were given the benefit of the doubt? Would be really nice. "Was it really all an accident?"

My thoughts exactly. It's still a terrific film, but Fennell's need to overexplain -- to endow Oliver with nefarious underpinnings from the jump -- nearly capsizes the narrative. If it had simply been about a "have not" who unwittingly blossoms into full horror, it would have been crushingly great. The ending as it stands more or less panders to an audience who, admittedly, might have entirely turned away from the experience if they had to grapple with the esoteric outcomes for themselves instead of being spoon fed a "plot." The beauty of true art is, indeed, ambiguity, but that's okay. I can still dig Fennell's Saltburn while adoring what might have been.

At the risk of sounding anti-intellectual, I don't think this movie was ever the major work you preamble it to be. I thought all the reveals were set up very early in the film. The film doesn't transform or become something "no longer". It's a pulpy romp of middle-class ambition as upper-class nightmare. Instead of comparing its exposition to things like John Wick or Star Wars, it begs to be compared to something way smaller like The Talented Mr. Ripley Edit: don't get it twisted, I also don't think this was the greatest movie ever. It was a very good film from 2023 and probably my personal favorite, not even the best tho. But I think it's ambitions were much simpler than most here are saying. It's Friday the 13th where rich people are the camp counselors having sex by the lake and Jason Voorhees is an unassuming twink you like

Wow - excellent commentary, excellent insights. Very thought provoking. I have zero interest in watching this film, but I think your analysis is very interesting, and you bring up excellent insights/points I've not heard anyone else bring up - anywhere. Best analysis I've heard on this. Well done.

Your perspective has given me food for thought and I actually agree, thinking about it, the sudden reveal of Oliver's character is a jarring tacked on and unnecessary plot line. I was left wondering, the above notwithstanding , how Saltburn would end up like a fallen down, abandoned ruin now under Oliver's stewardship. He wouldn't have the knowledge to keep it up, keep the house running, and it would eventually crumble around him.. now that's an ending I'd have liked to see! He grasps for the prize and the prize turns to dust. Saltburn and the Catton family are inextricable. Plus, he'd never be able to recreate that magic no matter how much money he had, because the upper classes don't let insiders in , not really. He could never even buy his way into that world.. thanks for that interesting video, great insight!

The ending itself, gave the movie another twist and another layer. Even more food for thought. I think it is added value, rather than the ruin of the movie.

Just watched it last night, I was pretty disappointed. My biggest issue was the several references to the "friend" from the summer before. There are multiple cryptic lines about the last guy that Felix brought home and how their friendship ended poorly, but none of that leads anywhere. We never find out who the friend was or what he did or what happened to him, it's just dialogue filler. Chekhov's Gun is an absolutely essential part of storytelling and making that obvious of a mistake just really brings the whole thing into question.

Can we please have a film version of The Secret History already since we’ve been waiting for decades and so many books and films have referenced and stolen the characters? (Of course TSH imitates Brideshead and Mr. Ripley)

I totally agree with your take! I thought it didn’t need to got Ripleys route and be more subtle, I thought it was similar to how Parasite got too unbelievably over the top at the end

Spot on! Felt the same with last 7 minutes and have been debating it with all my friends. Excellent job!

even tho i liked the movie a lot, there was something about it that didn't left me satisfied and in this videos you put it into words perfectly

I can't help but think how much this movie is indebted to Patricia Highsmith. There's a strong talented Mr Ripley vibe throughout this film.

When the ending revealed he was really typing nothing in the cafe I was like, how stupid does this film thing we are lol. Your giving us this whole montage of how he schemed from back at Oxford, at this point the audience doesn’t believe in coincidences so it was kinda pointless scene. I would have been more shocked. His mastermind plan seems less genius and more luck, who knew that if you gave Felix your bike he would feel gratitude to the point of letting you in his inner circle. Or leaving razor blades would be just enough to push his sister over the edge. I would have liked a “then there were none” situation for the sister, like constant psychological oppression rather than one instance. I think it would have been better to see how he took out players like Duncan, or poor Pamela, things that take more than luck to accomplish. Oliver in the end is just like the rich that he critiqued in that he didn’t really work it just worked out that way

The final scene is inspirational! It’s gone viral on TikTok, people uploading their own versions - feeling that freedom that Oliver felt, dancing. King of his own castle

absolutely phenomenal piece of genuine and professional critique on what I thought was a really strong motion picture, right up until the final twist. I feel like Oliver's shame and moment childish fear when Felix is driving them to Oliver's parents should have turned into something much more hysterical and violent, if Oliver is supposed to be this villainous master mind at the end?

Yes thank you. Both me and my friend came out of Saltburn quite disappointed because the first 2/3rds were great but it just seemed to lose momentum in the final 1/3rd, almost as if it didn't need to be there and I think this video sums it up quite well. It feels like the end is there purely for shock value and doesn't actually add to the story. If they really wanted to make Ollie a mastermind villain then I think a more compelling ending would have been to simple allude to the possibility that Ollie orchestrated the deaths of all the family opposed to running a play by play of how he did it. It just sort of felt a little insulting because it builds up this twist and then just sort of describes the entire twist to you step by step instead of leaving some sort of ambiguity. The last act sort of trades a great movie for something that's just "fun" which is fine but I personally found it a bit disappointing

I LOVED the ending. It wrapped it up in a bow for me. It helps that the song is a banger.

I think the flashback montage is just Oliver lying to us the audience, and maybe himself. I don't think he planned to do any of that. He was just really obsessed with Felix but Felix didn't love him back so he killed him. Oliver is a lying insecure narcissist.

PS He did not start out with intentions of killing anyone. He discovers his dark capabilities along the way when he realizes he lost Felix forever. The red flags on his ability to plot and plan and lie were there. Then he gave into that side entirely in the end.

I definitely can agree with your take in-so-far as the director's point of view being one of a fear of the middle class, and therefore having to represent the protagonist as unambiguously evil. I wouldn't go so far as it being classist but what I would say is that it is somewhat a subconscious attempt to reconcile her extremely privileged background with her left-wing politics. Which is such as shame because up until the finale, (or at the very least in the first half), I thought she was doing a really good job of representing what it's like for working class people on scholarships to attend Oxford. Speaking anecdotally, I come from a town that is only a few miles away from Prescot (the town where Oliver is from)- That whole area of North West England is essentially working and lower-middle class. In other words, it's a world away from the upbringing Fennel had. When me and my mates were watching it we couldn't help but root for Ollie in the beginning half, to be honest. Especially when Richard E. Grant's character answers flippantly the word: "North", to Elspeth's question of where the city of Liverpool is. (side note: a fun gaff we laughed at was that Ollie doesn't realise he's being driven all the way to Prescot by Felix, only when he sees a sign for the town being a few miles away on an A-road, he twigs on. In reality, the journey between Saltburn, which is meant to be set in Northamptonshire, and Prescot, comes to about 2 and a half hours, sometimes 3 hours if traffic is bad... That's a fucking long drive to take on your birthday, to not ask "where are we going?". What's more, the editing in the film makes it seem like the took a 20 minute joyride up there. It's a nit-pick but worth pointing out to viewers who don't live in the UK. Not the worst thing ever, just funny). Anyway, this is all too real a relationship between the elites of England and the working class. Funnily enough, one of my friends from my hometown was a scholarship student at Oxford. We visited him a few times during his years there (fun fact: he was residing in the same college that they used as the filming location for the Oxford scenes in Saltburn!). I can say, thankfully, that all of the friends he had made there, privileged background or otherwise- were perfectly hospitable towards us. We did have a few sobering reminders of how our worlds were so vastly different, though. Especially when we met the daughters and sons of lords, (fucking hell they were some of the rudest and most snobbish people I'd ever met. If you think representations of the elite in Salburn are exaggerated for thematic effect, they aren't. These are the kinds of people you get as a result of centuries of wealth and land hoarding. Don't forget- the British aristocracy still own a third of the UK's land!) Farley reminded me a lot of them. Anyway I've gone off on a bit of a tangent, just thought it was worth highlighting the themes of the British class system represented in this film, from a first-hand perspective.

i dont mind the twist but agree it would have been better. done if it was a lot more subtle and less hand fed to the audience.

The thing that’s missing in this analysis and most critical analyses I’ve seen of this movie is this: The movie is not meant to be understood from Ollie’s perspective even if it’s written as such. The movie is actually a horror story - a campfire faerie tale told by the elite to the elite - the story of the changeling who crashes and burns the structures of the elite. Burn and salt the earth. The movie references the spooky story of the man who drowned after meeting that person, later they’re terrified by The Ring. Ollie is The Ring, the Minotaur, the spooky monster used to scare Elite children. Everyone who watches the movie who is of the non-elite class sees the movie through Ollie’s eyes because that’s their frame of reference.

I think his reaction to Pamela's death is more about how he realises how disposable he is and that he has limited time.

Pamela's death: That Oliver looks troubled upon hearing about Pamela's death confused me - it would _seem_ that he felt bad for her which in turn suggests empathy. *BUT* I now think he seemed upset about it because it drove home the fact that without the Catton's 'protection' Pamela was left to die. Oliver realises that without the Cattons, he too, will be thrown to the wolves for an uncertain future. So it cements Oliver's determination to remain at Saltburn and part of the family *no matter what* and he can't allow anyone to stand in his way - even someone he 'loves.' I also think the 'exposition' (i.e. the last few minutes) is clumsily handled. It reminds me of those old 'who done it' tv shows where Miss Marple or Jessica Fletcher treats the audience like imbeciles as they launch into cheesy explanations. Shame really, but I still love this film.

I 100% disagree. The ending was perfect, especially Oliver's "celebration dance". I feel that, if you were paying attention, there was no ambiguity, even before the ending. I already knew Oliver was responsible for what happened. The only thing the ending did was to spell out how. He was obviously the bad guy. Yes, he does care. As Emerald said, we're meant to root for him. Even though we know he's the bad guy, we still want to see him win. That's how I felt. The only problem I have with this film is that I've seen it labeled as a dark comedy/thriller. I love dark comedy, and I didn't find this at all funny. There were smirks along the way, but never did I find myself laughing. I think I'd call it a psychological drama.

Watching this reminded me that the movie was mostly above average, it felt like it was going to end after the payoff, but then in those last few minutes it turned into a much lesser movie, which was how i remembered it... it was good to see an attempt at explaining why this was.

I totally agree. It was a like a soap opera, and instead of 'recontextualising', whatever that means, perhaps reframing is better, it just undermines the entire movie. The driving force of the movie was his love for Felix, and his desire to not be working class (subplot). The killing spree at the end was pulled off with panache but makes zero sense.

When oliver was pretended to be drunk and telling "i gave you what you wanted" who was that performance for? He was toing to kill him from the start so at this point why bother? Also why didn't the police question more about the death? That girl seen Olly in there

I think you didn't like bc it didn't end the way you wanted. I don't think Ollie is an intelligent character in his manipulation and murders. When he narrates everything as if it had always been his plan, I feel like it's more of a way to create an image of how he always had control and power, but we as an audience know that's not true. Ollie is just an invisible boy who, to satisfy his greatest desires, did everything to have it all.

If it were not for that final scene, this film would have been a re-make of "Brideshead Revisited". Loved that final scene....shocking and amazing at the same time.

I think that the ending should be interpreted a bit differently. At the beginning of the film, no way Oliver knew about Saltburn, he genuinely just wanted to get closer to Felix (i.e. bike wheel deflation and pretending he had no money). I think it was until roughly around the second act when he felt truly apart of the family and he pushed Farleigh out of the house is when he realised he might have a real chance of a hostile takeover.

i feel like the part where the dad kicks Oliver out is what kinda “ruins” the ending. It could’ve felt a lot less awkward and made so much more sense plot wise for Oliver to just replace Felix in their family (especially if he’s supposed to be obsessed with him).

Really great points! I also think that the flashback/montage was completely unnecessary. On top of what you said, I think the final dance scene + Ollie putting the stones on top of the puppeteer toy are very satisfying and subtle ways of showing us that he was the true puppeteer behind the family’s demise. Emerald had to ruin the ending by adding that montage scene when she already had perfect closer 😕

Had similar thoughts. It just doesn't make any sense, as it suggests that Oliver's master plan from the start was to what, befriend Felix and then kill him and his family and then take over Saltburn? The only logical way you can explain it is that Oliver's story really ends when Felix finds out he is a liar and the rest just takes place in Oliver's imagination - The theme of the party is a Midsummer night's dream after all. This would also explain the mirror smashing episode - signalling his exit from the looking glass? - but in the morning it is fixed - did he imagine it? That gives us *just about* enough ambiguity about his reliability, perhaps that's why that scene was included.

Yes i felt the exact same way! The ending made Oliver to be this evil genius mastermind, but I found him to be so much more compelling as a character without that. It made him the main villain when really they all were two faced. To me the movie went from being original to cliche just from the last couple minutes. I wish they left it more ambiguous

From a review I read on Letterboxd: "This is what rich people understood from Parasite"

I just don’t see the “eat the rich” narrative. What I see instead is a mix up of a Patrick Bateman from American Psycho and Lou from Nightcrawler. He got a glimpse of the riches and wanted it all for himself. He’s narcissistic, ambitious and egoistic. He’ll do whatever it takes to get what he wants and in the end he gets it. There doesn’t have to be a political message at the end…. Now if the director wanted that then she failed massively

I do agree the final montage was too on the nose and could’ve been left more ambiguous but it still doesn’t deter from my feelings towards the film. I really did fall in love with it. The pompous of its beauty deep rooted in themes of desire and desperation - how far would you go to get what you want? Honestly it was uncomfortable and gruesome but I love films like that

The last dance is FANTASTIC !!!

Love the movie, especially the ending.

wow. great analysis. I do think that spooning that information to the audience does kind of do a disservice. Probably would have been more haunting to leave some of that stuff out of the end

Great analysis, well put together and edited, and concise unlike some of the other videos I've watched on saltburn off topic but at 10:00 thats my hand lol

Excellent Analysis. While some time into the movie I thought “this has some Mr.Ripley vibes”, the movie would have been much better without the last 7 minutes, the ambiguity would have made it so much better. Plus in the real world with real coroners all three murders would have been super-easy to solve.

The movie starts with Oliver asking the question about whether he loved Felix or was in love with him, and I think the ending exists for the purpose of that. Everything before the ending, the bathtub scene , the grave scene , even the twist about the family make it seem like Oliver was obsessed and would do anything to be around Felix , but the ending suggests that he had a different goal the entire time. The way I see it Oliver just wants attention and to be wanted by people around him but in a twisted way. He wants to be an only child so all attention from parents can be on him , he lies to them about his achievements so they can love him more , he wants friends but can never have them because of the way he is, so he puts on an act. In the beginning he "loved Felix" in the sense that he wanted to be him, to be a person that was loved and wanted by everyone BUT after spending time with him he started to actually fall in love with Felix and wanted to be with him. His goal was ALWAYS to take over Saltburn but his feelings for Felix were also true. When his lies gets exposed he realizes that he has no choice but to kill him and replace him since he cant have him anymore. Him asking the question about whether he loved Felix or was in love with him is a way to deny his feelings. "Everybody loved Felix" is a way for him to cope and invalidate his feelings for Felix since he is not supposed to have them because he 'hates' the class Felix belongs to (based on his words to Elsbeth in the end) Although it could've been better and more ambiguous the ending still serves its purpose of making us wonder about Oliver's true intentions before he became friends with Felix.

I 100% agree with you. I think the same applies to the divisive ending of Promising Young Woman. People loved Promising (PS would love your take and opinion on that ending btw)

The scene between elspeth and ollie i felt was more about him wanting to feel powerful in that moment and reassert that while hes not as rich as them he still runs circles around them mentally because hes more real than they are. Mainly because in that whole scene his words about pamela are exactly what hes doing to them, but he knows elspeth is too oblivious to notice his hints