Top 10 Things You Missed in Saltburn
#10: “Superbad”
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The last thing you might expect from the Cattons is midday screening of “Superbad.” Sure enough though, that’s how Oliver Quick finds the Saltburn residents when he’s introduced to them. Viewers were quick to point out that the majority of the film takes place in 2007, and that’s the same summer that “Superbad” was in theaters. Any concerns of inconsistencies were quelled by director Emerald Fennell, who explained that a screener would have been provided by one of Elspeth’s many connections. And if you assumed that this was a throwaway detail, think again. Some have pointed out the similarities between Fogel’s fake ID and Oliver’s false identity throughout the film. Either way, it was strange and entertaining to see an English aristocrat watching a Jonah Hill flick.
#9: “Mr. Brightside”
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Though the film might be divisive, everyone can agree that “Saltburn’s” soundtrack was a smash hit. A number of songs even went viral online, some two decades after their release. However, one classic 2000s anthem had the sneakiest influence on the plot. On Oliver’s birthday, the boys take a road trip to Prescot where Felix finds Oliver’s parents, sober, loving, and both very much alive. On the drive, the boys sing along to The Killers’ track, “Mr. Brightside”. Much like the song, the film has strong themes of deceit and betrayal. The song is both a perfect fit for the time period as well as the imminent reveal that ushers in the end of Felix and Oliver’s friendship.
#8: Coronation Theme
The track that plays over the title sequence might sound familiar to music aficionados or royalty-watchers. For the past three centuries, Handel’s “Zadok the Priest” has symbolized the anointing of the sovereign at every British coronation. For “Saltburn”, the song preludes a similar rise, if not by divine right then by force. Listen closely and you’ll notice one crucial detail has been changed: “Zadok the Priest” was replaced by “Oliver Quick”. The lyric change reflects Oliver’s slow ascent and eventual usurpation of the Catton family. The film’s director dropped the Easter egg on X and praised composer Anthony Willis for his work on the arrangement. Long live the king, indeed!
#7: The Professor
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To say that Oliver and Farleigh’s meeting with their Oxford tutor is awkward is an understatement. Not only does the professor belittle Oliver for his hometown and summer reading habits, but Farleigh is extremely late and barely acknowledges the fellow student. While you were busy cringing at the scene, you likely missed a crucial parallel. While the professor makes the connection that Farleigh’s mother is a former classmate, he is quick to note that he wasn’t her friend so much as a distant admirer - much in the same way that Oliver worships Felix and his family from afar throughout the film. The professor might not harmonize with Oliver, but the two have more in common than meets the eye.
#6: Gothic Inspiration
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Did “Saltburn” give you the heebie-jeebies? You’re not alone — and there’s a very good explanation why! Without relying on the presence or threat of supernatural forces, Emerald Fennell fostered an eerie film with only the setting and general atmosphere. The film is largely inspired by literature of the same genre, such as “Brideshead Revisited,” which Jacob Elordi read in preparation for production. The settings of Oxford and Saltburn lend to the creepy aesthetic, while devices like emotional distress, sexuality, and murder align the plot with the moody genre. As the film progresses, the tension rises, and despite the lack of jump scares or gore, we still find ourselves covering our eyes.
#5: 2000s Aesthetic
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Although 2006-07 might feel like yesterday to some, “Saltburn” can be classified as a period piece. And when it comes to a period piece, nailing the aesthetic is of utmost importance. Students at Oxford can be seen with piercings, rugby shirts, and bootcut jeans. But the noughties aesthetic doesn’t end when the characters go to Saltburn. Even in a sophisticated setting, Emerald Fennell wanted to demonstrate the casual style of the upper class. Felix’s fashion was inspired by that of Prince Harry while Farleigh’s hair seems to have been inspired by Corbin Bleu’s signature “High School Musical” ‘do. The film is a time capsule of a lost era of fashion and pop culture and we are definitely here for it.
#4: A Death Foretold
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When it comes to foreshadowing, it doesn’t get creepier than this. Oliver adeptly knocks out the four main players of the Catton family with the deed to Saltburn as the ultimate prize. While their demise may come as a shock to viewers, two deaths were hinted at moments before they occurred. In the aftermath of Felix’s sudden death, the remaining family members gather for the world’s most uncomfortable lunch. As the coroner moves Felix’s body outside, a dead-eyed Venetia pours over her glass of red wine. Some pointed out the similarities between the spilled wine and her tragic death scene. Shortly thereafter, Elspeth foretells her own death by choking on her food. Only Sir James’ death remains a mystery. Any guesses?
#3: Oliver’s Rock
Did you know that Oliver’s lie was revealed in the first thirty minutes of “Saltburn”? When Oliver meets Felix, he appeals to the aristocratic son’s kindness with an emotional story about a toxic upbringing. Oliver later confides in his new friend that his father passed as a result of a substance use disorder, a confession that prompts Felix’s invitation to Saltburn. To support his friend, Felix invokes a family tradition of throwing a rock in a river to honor the dead. When Oliver tosses his father’s rock, however, it lands in trash. His father isn’t dead at all and the unfortunate situation is less unfortunate as it is a hint to what is yet to come.
#2: The Minotaur
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The last thing one might expect from a psychological thriller is a mythological callback. Nevertheless, the story of the legendary hero Theseus and the Minotaur plays an important role in “Saltburn.” The Minotaur is a half-bull half-man creature slayed by the warrior Theseus, who in turn betrays the royal family in order to secure the crown. Sound familiar? The symbol of the bull appears numerous times throughout the film, including on a pub sign in Oxford. Later, when Oliver speaks with Elspeth, a statue of Theseus killing the Minotaur is in the background. Most striking is the giant Minotaur statue in the center of the maze where Felix is murdered, meeting the same fate as his literary counterpart.
#1: Doppelganger
Wait… Are we seeing double? Throughout the film, the theme of doubles is constant and frankly, pretty discomforting. Mirroring is used symbolically to represent a double identity or the idea that someone is always watching. However, one particular double moment sets up the climax of the film early on. During Oliver’s first breakfast at Saltburn, Venetia tells the family that Percy Bysshe Shelley’s maid reportedly saw Shelley walk past a window, despite being in a different country. A few hours later, he was dead. If you look behind Venetia during this scene, you can see an extra who looks almost exactly like Felix walk past the window, foreshadowing his own death. Much like Elspeth, the spooky scene gives us total chills.
Did you catch any other strange or interesting Easter eggs in “Saltburn”? Drop them in the comments below!
