My interview with writer/director Emerald Fennell didn’t start how I expected it to. After commenting on what a rollercoaster her latest film Saltburn is, the Oscar-winning filmmaker asks me which theme park ride I’d compare it to. Admitting I’m not exactly much of a roller coaster enthusiast, I eventually decided on Thirteen at Alton Towers, thanks to its gothic setting and third act twist. Of course, I then wanted to know which one she would compare her movie to, but instead Fennell references a fairground film scene: "Did you see Fear with Reese Witherspoon? It’s a ‘90s thriller and there’s a great scene that was very important to me in my teen years where her character gets fingered on a rollercoaster. I hope that’s the kind of ride Saltburn is."
Although I am yet to catch up with the ‘90s cult favorite, a quick watch of the scene on YouTube confirms that Fennell’s hopes have been achieved, with Saltburn being just as seductively exciting yet sinister. Set in 2006, we follow Barry Keoghan’s Oliver Quick as he meets the charming, aristocratic Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi), who invites him to his family’s lavish home Saltburn for a summer never to be forgotten. However, the more time Quick spends at Saltburn, the more he becomes alarmingly infatuated with the Catton family, particularly Felix who he is completely and utterly obsessed with.
