Barry Keoghan's Saltburn ending leaves fan traumatised - but it's now explained

28 December 2023 , 17:08

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Barry Keoghan's Saltburn ending leaves fan traumatised - but it's now explained

The latest film to hit Amazon Prime was the psychological drama Saltburn and while it has generated praise by viewers, it seems there were many unanswered questions with the film's ending.

But now writer and director Emerald Fennell has come forward to ease the anxiety of fans despite the fact many were left "traumatised" by one particular scene - the bathtub scene. The film follows the journey of Oliver Quick, played by Barry Keoghan, who is struggling to fit in at Oxford University. But he soon forms a connection with aristocrat Felix Catton, played by Jacob Elordi. Felix invites Oliver to his family estate, Saltburn, for a summer that he will never forget.

Oliver Quick is played by actor Barry Keogh in Saltburn

Oliver is infatuated by Felix, so much so, after witnessing Felix pleasuring himself while in the bath, Oliver secretly drinks the bath water. Felix surprises Oliver with a trip to see his estranged mother and soon realises that Oliver had been lying about his upbringing. His father is still alive and neither parent is addicted to substances. On this realisation Felix orders Oliver off the estate as he felt hurt and deceived.

After confessing his adoration for Felix, Oliver soon realises that his admission had fallen on deaf ears. Felix is soon found dead on the estate. Over the course of years, Oliver immersed himself into the family but tragic events appeared to happen around him. But is he the culprit? The film ends with Oliver dancing naked in the sprawling mansion - a scene viewers found confusing.

Taking to Twitter, one person wrote: "I legit can’t get over the ending of Saltburn and just the overall movie... like what did I just experience???" Another person said: "Saltburn was absolutely insane! Did not expect that ending!" And a third penned: "Well.. that Saltburn ending was... something..." Sharing the same viewpoint, a fourth person said: "Me watching Saltburn thinking it would be a cute romance movie and ending up traumatised."

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Speaking to GQ magazine about the film and her chosen ending, Emerald Fennell explained: "It was always going to be a walk, the exact inverse of Felix's tour [earlier in the film]. But a naked walk. And then about halfway through filming, I just felt it wouldn't have the evil glee. It had to be an act of desecration, an act of territory taking. It's ownership. 'This is f**king mine. I do whatever I want'."

Richard E. Grant plays Felix Catton's father Sir James Catton (Courtesy of Prime Video)

She continued: "It's not going to be, like, the forever victory. It's sort of a depressing victory, even for Oliver. But in that moment, we need to love him. I like the audience to be complicit." When asked if there were any other alternative endings in mind, she replied: "No, no, because I don't really work like that.I think it's a happy ending, [but] the happiest ending [for Oliver] would of course be with him and Felix married, living there together. I think that in his mind, and in my mind, that would be the dream. That dream is not possible. So, therefore, this is the best of a bad bunch of options."

Lucretia Munro