Explained: What’s the Point Behind the Movie “Saltburn”

Welcome to the world of Saltburn! This film had everyone talking last year, and not always in a good way. It’s a classic tale of rich versus poor, but with a twist that left everyone shook.

Set in the early 2000s, it follows Oliver Quick, played by Barry Keoghan, who’s just a regular middle-class man. Then there’s Felix Catton, a ridiculously rich kid portrayed by Jacob Elordi, who pulls Oliver into his lavish world at Saltburn, his family’s jaw-droppingly huge estate.

At first glance, it seems like your average story. But hold up! It’s much more than that. This film dives deep into themes of desire, obsession, and, of course, the class divide. But is it a fun romp, or a deep social critique?

Honestly, it’s a bit of both, and a whole lot of confusing. The more you watch, the more you realize it’s not just about the glitzy lifestyle—it’s about the dark side of wanting what you can’t have. So, is it a love story, a thriller, or a cautionary tale? Let’s break it down!

Obsession, Desire, and Glamour—The Dark World of Saltburn

At its heart, Saltburn dives into themes of desire and obsession. Barry Keoghan‘s Oliver Quick is super into Jacob Elordi‘s Felix Catton and becomes dangerously obsessed with him throughout the film. When he visits Saltburn, his obsession spills over into their extravagant lifestyle—think giant house, private pool, and 24/7 staff.

While the film touches on love, it doesn’t exactly paint it as pure. Oliver starts by claiming he’s not in love with Felix, but that just makes us think he really is. The movie explores how far someone will go for their desires.

However, Oliver’s attractions aren’t limited to Felix. He’s also shows interest in Felix’s sister, Venetia, and his cousin, Farleigh. This suggests that Oliver isn’t truly in love with Felix—he’s more drawn to the entire glamorous lifestyle. Ultimately, the story is about obsession and the extreme lengths people will go to in order to get what they desire.

Saltburn Explores Class Divide Through Wealth and Fascination

One of the big themes in Saltburn is class. The film hints at classism and the divide in the UK, particularly through Felix’s fascination with Oliver, whose lower-class background makes him a novelty.

Felix finds Oliver’s humble origins interesting because he’s used to being around wealthy people. While the film sets up a classic “rich vs. poor” story, it doesn’t dive deep into class issues.

This lack of commentary is a problem because it risks implying that rich people are glamorous and the poor might ruin the fun. The twist at the end, where Oliver schemes to take down the Catton family to steal their wealth, seems to reinforce the idea that if the rich are kind to the poor, they’ll just end up getting hurt.

The film ends with an “eat the rich” vibe, where Oliver takes everything from the Cattons, but by then, he’s impossible to sympathize with. He’s shown to be a cold, manipulative person who will do anything to get ahead, even murder. This is different from other films that show lower-class characters in a more sympathetic light.

Ultimately, Saltburn feels like a mixed bag. While the ending flips the narrative on its head, it also raises questions about its message. If it’s meant to comment on the rich-poor dynamic, it suggests that rich people’s fears about the poor are valid. But ultimately, that’s the point of Saltburn—it explores themes of power, privilege, obsession, desire, and greed.

Saltburn is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.