Despite mixed reviews, “Saltburn” turned into a very rare cultural moment for movies in 2023, alongside ‘Barbenheimer,’ and ‘Super Mario Bros.’
What got the ball rolling for “Saltburn” was its quick appearance on Prime Video. With tepid box office receipts and disappointing reviews, Fennell’s film was about to get lost in the clutter of year-end releases. Streaming more than just saved it — it turned it into a phenomenon.
Yes, “Saltburn,” a film that features a young man slurping up bathtub cum water, was a TikTok sensation. What does that say about today’s culture? The “Saltburn” hashtag on TikTok garnered almost 3 billion views with an abundance of video homages going viral.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Ridley Scott states that “Saltburn” was “the best film I’ve seen this year.”
“Saltburn” lead, Barry Keoghan, was supposed to be part of Scott’s “Gladiator II,” but according to the filmmaker, Keoghan “got locked into” “Saltburn,” and couldn’t commit. That’s not what Jeff Sneider has been hearing, writing that Keoghan was outright fired from the film. The reason for the firing was not revealed.
In the NYT interview, Scott does hint at Keoghan’s off-set troubles, and runs cover for him by saying “I know he’s a bit of a challenge, but it’s worth it. Like deciding on Joaquin [Phoenix], it’s worth it.”
One scene from “Saltburn” that went viral, which I still can’t erase from my head, had Keoghan’s Oliver weeping over a friend’s grave then pulling down his pants and having sex with the burial ground. Keoghan later told Variety the scene was improvised. What a sicko!
The ‘Smile’ franchise has a new director. David Bruckner, who made “The Night House” and the 2022 “Hellraiser” reboot, has been hired to direct “Smile 3” for Paramount.