Ending Explained: Oliver’s Dark Triumph in Saltburn (Film)

Saltburn is a movie released in 2023. It’s a black comedy psychological thriller. The film stars actors like Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, and Rosamund Pike. It’s about a student at Oxford who becomes obsessed with another student and gets invited to spend time with his strange family. The movie received good reviews and even got nominated for awards like Golden Globe and BAFTA.

Quick Plot Summary

In the movie Saltburn, a young student named Oliver goes to a fancy university and makes friends with a rich boy named Felix. Oliver goes to Felix’s house for the summer and meets his family. But Oliver starts acting strangely and does some bad things. Eventually, Felix dies and Oliver takes over his family’s house and money. Oliver does some more bad things and becomes the owner of the house.

Ending Explanation

The ending of “Saltburn” reveals a lot about the main character, Oliver, and his true intentions. Throughout the film, Oliver appears to be a sympathetic character who struggles to fit in because of his background. However, the ending shows that Oliver had been manipulating everyone around him from the start. He admits to being responsible for the tragic events that occurred at Saltburn, including the deaths of Felix and Venetia. His confessions to Elspeth and his actions after her death—dancing naked around the mansion he now owns—show that Oliver’s ultimate goal was to take over the Catton family fortune and Saltburn itself.

Oliver’s meticulous planning and manipulation suggest that he is a deeply troubled and calculating individual, driven by a desire for wealth and status. His ability to charm and deceive the Catton family highlights his dangerous and sociopathic tendencies. The ending underscores the theme of obsession and the lengths to which some will go to achieve their desires, no matter the cost to themselves or others. Oliver’s journey from a seemingly vulnerable scholarship student to the master of Saltburn and the Catton fortune is a dark and twisted tale of ambition, deceit, and the destructive power of obsession.

Similar Movies

Given the description of Saltburn as a black comedy psychological thriller with themes of obsession, aristocracy, and eccentric family dynamics, here are similar movies that might capture some of the same intrigue and thematic resonance:

1. The Favourite (2018) – Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, this film is a historical black comedy that delves into the political and sexual intrigues of Queen Anne’s court. The dynamics of power, manipulation, and eccentric characters make it akin to Saltburn.

2. Parasite (2019) – Bong Joon-ho’s critically acclaimed film combines elements of dark comedy, psychological drama, and social commentary, focusing on two families of vastly different economic statuses becoming entangled in a complex relationship.

3. Knives Out (2019) – Directed by Rian Johnson, this is a modern whodunit that combines mystery with sharp humor and an eccentric ensemble cast, revolving around the death of a patriarch and the subsequent gathering of his dysfunctional family.

4. Get Out (2017) – A psychological thriller by Jordan Peele that explores themes of racism and privilege within the context of a young African-American man visiting his white girlfriend’s mysterious family estate.

5. We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011) – Directed by Lynne Ramsay, this psychological thriller and drama focuses on the troubled relationship between a mother and her son, who exhibits increasingly disturbing behavior.

6. Gosford Park (2001) – Directed by Robert Altman, this film is a black comedy murder mystery set in a large English country house in the 1930s, focusing on both the upper-class family and their servants. The ensemble cast and intricate storytelling echo the thematic elements of Saltburn.

7. The Lobster (2015) – Another film by Yorgos Lanthimos, this black comedy-drama explores themes of society, relationships, and conformity in a surreal setting, where single people must find a partner within 45 days or be transformed into animals.

8. Phantom Thread (2017) – Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, this historical drama set in the fashion world of 1950s London explores the complex relationship between a renowned dressmaker and his muse, with elements of psychological intrigue and eccentric characters.

9. A Simple Favor (2018) – Directed by Paul Feig, this black comedy thriller follows a small-town vlogger who tries to solve the disappearance of her mysterious and elegant friend, uncovering secrets and revelations along the way.

10. Shutter Island (2010) – Directed by Martin Scorsese, this psychological thriller set on a remote island housing a psychiatric facility delves into the investigation of a missing patient, with themes of obsession and psychological manipulation.

These films share various elements with Saltburn, from their genre blend of black comedy and thriller to their exploration of complex relationships, societal commentary, and the presence of eccentric, aristocratic characters or settings.

Reference: Wikipedia