Saltburn Review: Barry Keoghan Is Captivating In Emerald Fennell’s Twisted Drama

Promising Young Woman made waves upon its release in 2020, and sparked multiple think pieces and conversation. Writer-director Emerald Fennell’s sophomore feature, Saltburn, aims to do the same with its acerbic style and bombast. The film is a gothic thriller that dissects class, privilege, obsession, lust, and the levels of cruelty birthed from various power dynamics. The film has similarities to The Talented Mr. Ripley, though it’s not as expertly crafted. Saltburn has enough to keep our eyes glued to the screen, curious to see how everything unfolds, but it isn’t necessarily as insightful as it thinks it is. Anchored by a strong, eerie performance by Barry Keoghan, Saltburn is wickedly twisted, alluring, and darkly satirical, though it’s lacking some bite.