![‘Most disturbing’ film of 2023 with star-studded cast is called ‘disgustingly amazing’ by viewers](https://images.ladbible.com/resize?type=webp&quality=70&width=3840&fit=contain&gravity=auto&url=https://images.ladbiblegroup.com/v3/assets/bltb5d92757ac1ee045/blt990caf09130f0314/658c3954f60f89040ad598bd/thriller-prime-must-watch.png%3Fcrop%3D297%2C298%2Cx0%2Cy9)
With Christmas over, if you're looking for something new to replace those cosy holiday rom-coms and classics, then there's a feast of viewing around.
But one new title seems to have taken top billing.
The film in question is none other than Emerald Fennell's latest offering, Saltburn, which she has called a 'modern gothic romance'.
With a star-studded cast including Irish actor Barry Keoghan, Euphoria's Jacob Elordi, Gone Girl's Rosamund Pike and Richard E. Grant, it's been getting a lot of buzz since it dropped on Amazon's Prime Video recently.
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The film, which was released in cinemas last month, was written and directed by Academy Award winning writer Fennell, whose directorial debut, Promising Young Woman, garnered heaps of awards and praise.
Saltburn sees oddball student Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) struggling to fit in as he acclimatises to life at Oxford University. Soon he's drawn into the friendship circle of charming and aristocratic Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi), who invites him to his parent's sprawling family estate, Saltburn, for the summer.
The film has already notched up two Golden Globe nominations, with a lead actor nod for Keoghan and a supporting actress nod for Pike.
![Rosamund Pike as Elspeth Catton.](https://images.ladbible.com/resize?type=webp&quality=70&width=3840&fit=contain&gravity=auto&url=https://images.ladbiblegroup.com/v3/assets/bltb5d92757ac1ee045/blt62be950076446d0f/658c30681ce924040acaf9d9/01HF6HEZ0X2RH036EM5875FTP2.jpg)
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But it's also got a lot of people talking.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, people have shared their reactions, with some praise for Pike and one person writing: "Did anyone else laugh every time Rosamund Pike opened her mouth in #Saltburn? Almost every line she had was an absolute banger."
Another person on X gave the film their own rating of 8.3/10 and wrote: "Weirdly and disgustingly amazing, acting and dramatic tensions are great, some scenes were definitely weird but Barry Keoghan is brilliant in this."
But be warned, it has a fair few scenes some may find shocking, which some reactions allude to.
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One person wrote on X: "I’m OBSESSED! Saltburn is such a beautifully twisted film with stunning visuals and an insane story that will leave you feeling absolutely sick, shocked and satisfied."
![Jacob Elordi as Felix Catton.](https://images.ladbible.com/resize?type=webp&quality=70&width=3840&fit=contain&gravity=auto&url=https://images.ladbiblegroup.com/v3/assets/bltb5d92757ac1ee045/blt3e6179d8050d4b4e/658c313da68ee6040add7f7a/01HF6HF2S8XNXT68V2SH0BG3J1.jpg)
And even famous people have shared their thoughts. In an essay for Variety, singer-songwriter Charli XCX wrote: "No, but seriously, the homage to the gay gothic genre throughout this twisted romp was absolutely fabulous and whilst I’m hesitant to say that I identify with Keoghan’s character for obvious reasons, Fennell reminded me of the searing pain that is being the outsider looking in. P.S. the music slapped."
Fennell has already shown an affinity for retro needle drops (Paris Hilton’s Stars Are Blind in Promising Young Woman, anyone?) and Saltburn is no exception, with bangers from Bloc Party, Arcade Fire and MGMT.
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There's been a lot of praise for Keoghan, who last year secured an Oscar nomination for The Banshees of Inisherin.
Someone posted on X: "Barry Keoghan deserves a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his performance in Saltburn."
Keoghan previously said of Saltburn: "I found the script clever, moving and emotional. Emerald takes you into Oliver’s POV, allows you to really feel for him, and then things take a different twist."