8 Movies To Watch If You Like ‘Saltburn’: Since its release, “Saltburn” met with mixed reactions from audiences and critics. Many viewers found it quite shallow and insipid. Some found it needlessly provocative. Others appreciated how it used dark humor to explore the theme of class difference. While some viewers loved its transgressive nature, others could not digest it one bit. Despite all these reactions, a few of its aspects were unanimously admired. One of them is the acting performances, especially by Barry Keoghan & Rosamund Pike.
Linus Sandgren worked his magic to make the film look visually striking and irresistible. Jacob Elordi made Oliver’s unending, obsessive love for Felix feel inescapable. I mean, how can you not be charmed by his presence? As I said to a friend, we see Felix ‘through the warmth of Oliver’s gaze!’ Besides, even if the script lacks depth, Fennell’s direction was delightful. Well, if you loved “Saltburn” for these reasons and want to watch something similar, we’ve got you covered.
Here are eight movies to watch if you like Emerald Fennel’s “Saltburn”:
1. The Talented Mr Ripley (1999)
While discussing “Saltburn,” “The Talented Mr Ripley” must be the first title that comes to everyone’s mind. Starring Matt Damon & Jude Law in the leads, it followed a similar narrative. In “Saltburn,” we meet an ambitious outsider entering the world of wealth – struggling to understand whether he wants to be with the aristocratic student or to be him. Similarly, Tom Ripley from the 1999 film gets obsessed with Dickie’s overwhelming wealth. It leads him to go to extreme lengths just to impersonate Dickie.
While “Saltburn” feels like a more excessive adaptation, “The Talented Mr Ripley” offers a dark and unsettling take on the same narrative. British playwright Anthony Minghella, who is known more for Oscar-winning “The English Patient,” brought this deeply affecting psychological thriller to the screen. Besides Damon & Law, its cast is filled with fantastic actors from Cate Blanchett, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Philip Baker Hall. So, it seems like a fitting suggestion if you liked “Saltburn.”
2. Triangle of Sadness (2022)
With its criticism of class disparities, “Saltburn” became yet another film in the recent crop of ‘Eat the Rich’ themed narratives. The other recent film that received a lot of love and recognition is Ruben Östlund’s “Triangle of Sadness.” It mainly follows a couple that goes on a glamorous cruise ship journey with supremely wealthy people. Each character brings a certain set of privileges – which adds to the discussions about social hierarchy & inequalities.
Be it beauty, public perception, gender, or wealth, “Triangle of Sadness” hysterically examines these elements. Like “Saltburn,” it also uses humor to show the insanity of the wealthy bunch. After its Palme d’Or win, the film also went on to become a multiple Oscar nominee. Even though it was criticized for its lack of serious thought or insight, it certainly made the discussions about social hierarchy digestible to a wider audience. Starring Harris Dickinson, Charibi Dean Kriek, Dolly De Leon, Woody Harrelson, and Zlatko Buric, “Triangle of Sadness” could be a fantastic follow-up to “Saltburn.”
3. The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
There are multiple reasons why “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” would be a great film to watch after the wickedly entertaining “Saltburn.” Both films star Barry Keoghan as a person trying to assimilate into a family – with a strong motive. The film is born out of Yorgos Lanthimos’s mind, who is known for his weird, eccentric films, including this year’s critically acclaimed “Poor Things.” It is a deeply disturbing psychological horror thriller film filled with unsettling scenes. Like “Saltburn,” it also captures the effects of an undying obsession.
In the 2017 film, Keoghan flexes his acting muscles and offers a glimpse of his exceptional dramatic range. This is the same man who played an adorable goof in The “Banshees of Inisherin” and makes us fall in love with him. So, “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” will offer you more from the same genius actor. Besides him, the film boasts excellent performances by Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Raffey Cassidy, Sunny Suljilc, and Alicia Silverstone. Its script, which won the Best Screenplay Award at the Cannes Film Festival, is a perfect blend of disturbing and amusing that will satiate your hunger for outrageously absurd dark humor.
4. Decision to Leave (2022)
Park Chan-wook is widely popular for his unique cinematic style. With every film, he uses the creative tools at his disposal to their complete potential to heighten the dramatic tension. Known mostly for “Oldboy,” his recent film – “Decision to Leave” is a fascinating mystery romance, which explores the themes of deviance and obsession. It follows a married detective whose investigation of a man’s death leads him to meet the man’s widow. The film explores their push-and-pull relationship through Park’s trademark style.
Like “Saltburn,” “Decision to Leave” does not fear to explore the extremities that lovers reach for matters of the heart. It is a bewitching mood piece that also explores obsessive love that destroys the lives of the lovers in different ways. This thriller examines the devastating impact of their decisions, guided by emotions & transgressive thoughts. Shot by Kim Ji-yong & his cinematography team, it is as visually arresting as “Saltburn,” if not more.
5. Call Me By Your Name (2017)
One of the most loved aspects of “Saltburn” is the adoration it shows to its muse – Jacob Elordi. His swoon-worthy portrayal is exemplified by Keoghan’s performance which makes his character seem like a person worthy of our love and attention. Whether it is their striking height difference or their irresistible chemistry, the romance looks and feels quite similar to Luca Guadagnino’s “Call Me by Your Name.” Even if there is very little thematic similarity, both films present moving portraits of unrequited love.
Linus Sandgren makes use of lush greens and refreshing blues to make “Saltburn” feel charming. Sayombhu Mukdeeprom lenses the romance in the 2017 film in quite a similar fashion. In CMBYN, we see Oliver through Elio’s eyes. Similarly, in “Saltburn,” Oliver’s deep yearning for Felix makes him even more appealing. “Call Me by Your Name” is bittersweet but not as dark or troubling as “Saltburn.” Nevertheless, if you crave nothing but to watch just a similar romance unfold, “Call Me by Your Name” is the best pick.
6. The Menu (2022)
After years of TV directorial work, Mark Mylod received immense popularity for his work on HBO’s hit drama series – “Succession.” With “The Menu,” he offered a similarly incisive take on the plastic lives of uber-rich people. This dark comedic satire follows a young couple who goes to a secluded island for an exclusive restaurant tour to experience a lavish menu from an acclaimed chef. On the surface, it seems like a critique of the fine-dining world. But it is filled with rich subtext associated with the socio-economic place of every character.
“Saltburn” joins the ‘Eat the Rich’ themed works to show the hollowness of the wealthy lot and questions the status quo. It used a dark comedy setting to present these relevant themes. Similarly, “The Menu” uses dark comedy to ridicule the high-brow culture that prioritizes exclusivity, worships genius despite cruel intentions, and abhors benevolence. It gradually amps up the tension while seamlessly switching from humor to chamber horror. If you liked “Saltburn” for these aspects, “The Menu” should be next on your watchlist.
7. Us (2019)
Unlike “Get Out,” “Us” is Jordan Peele’s out-an-out psychological horror film where the subtext isn’t as readily accessible as his other works. The film shows a couple – Adelaide & Gabriel- who go on a trip to a beach with their two kids. After spending time with their friends, they get confronted by their terrifying doppelgängers, who go to every conceivable length to torture them. So, the film then follows the family trying to fight the ‘tethered’ versions to stay alive and maintain their place in the world.
When asked about the meaning, Peele purposefully refrained from clarifying it and wanted the viewers to dissect it themselves. From film critics and casual film-viewers to scholars, everyone saw it through different lens. However, the common consensus was that it is a stimulating examination of class, race, and privilege. “Saltburn” lacks depth but explores how a person can climb a social ladder. So, if you liked that aspect of the Emerald Fennel film and want something to scratch your brain after – regarding socio-economic disparities, then “Us” is a befitting choice.
8. Fatal Attraction (1987)
Starring Michael Douglas, Glenn Close & Anne Archer, “Fatal Attraction” explores what the title suggests. Like “Saltburn,” it is a tale of obsessive love. It follows Dan Gallagher, a married man, who gets romantically involved with another woman – Alex Forrest. After their one-night stand, they grow increasingly close to each other. However, unlike what one might suspect, it is not a criticism of infidelity or sexism but a wicked exploration of the lengths one goes to attain love.
“Saltburn” explores a similar arc through Oliver, who is ready to do anything to fulfill his obsession. Be it the bathtub scene or the grave scene, the film does not shy away from showing love through hideous gestures. The fact to keep in mind is – this is not hideous for the character. The obsessive lover from “Fatal Attraction” works from a similar frame of mind, where actions are often guided (or justified) by their love. The ‘I must have what I love’ attitude is explored in a much more blunt manner than films generally tend to. So, as an out-there romance thriller, this 1987 movie is a great choice if you liked “Saltburn.”
