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An unsettling scene that features one of its characters engaging in desperate acts upon a literal grave earned Saltburn its fame for being "disturbingly beautiful," as per critic reviews. Starring the likes of Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, and Rosamund Pike, the story revolves around an Oxford University student, Oliver Quick, played by the Eternals actor.
The plot follows the scholar while he is struggling to fit in Oxford. Drawn to the world of an aristocratic classmate, Elordi’s Felix Catton, he agrees to join the latter and his family for a summer vacation getaway. Yet, things only get worse as Oliver gets increasingly obsessed with Felix, filling up the story with utter chaos.
Directed by Emerald Fennell, the film dives deep into class disparity, identity, and the dark side of human relationships. Unfortunately, there are no plans for a sequel, at least not yet. However, that does not mean there is a dearth of films that are like Saltburn.
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8 movies like Saltburn that carry its psychological thrill and other elements
At its core, Saltburn falls into the psychological thriller, dark comedy, and social satire genres. Viewers who have appreciated the movie have largely done so because of its unpredictable plot, twists and turns, and for leaving them with a sense of unease and intrigue.
Those who are looking for similar edge-of-the-seat, not-for-everyone, disturbing yet cinematic films after going through Saltburn, may find the below eight recommendations worthy of their time.
- Promising Young Woman
- The Killing of a Sacred Deer
- Parasite
- Gone Girl
- Thoroughbreds
- Ready or Not
- The Talented Mr. Ripley
- The Menu
1) Promising Young Woman (2020) - peacock, fubo
Both Saltburn and Promising Young Woman have a knack for making viewers feel uncomfortable with their plots. Moreover, with Emerald Fennell holding the directorial reins for both, they share the same dark and twist-filled setting with complex, multi-dimensional characters.
Starring Carey Mulligan as Cassie Thomas, the story revolves around her leading a double life. Acting as a vulnerable woman during the day, she targets and exposes predatory men to avenge her best friend’s tragic assault-suicide.
Filled with tension, dark humor, and focus on character motivations, the Promising Young Woman takes unexpected turns, with Cassie’s quest for justice turning into a dangerous obsession.
2) The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017) - HBO max
A Yorgos Lanthimos directorial, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, follows the story of a surgeon named Steven Murphy and his friendship with a teenage boy, Martin. However, as the story progresses, the latter begins controlling and manipulating the former as well as his family.
The plot has the doctor forced into making absurd moral decisions, unaware of the boy’s sinister intentions. This threatens Steven’s personal and professional life. The film's chilling encounters serve to leave viewers unnerved.
Like Saltburn, this 2017 film also has Barry Keoghan, who stars as Martin, while Colin Farrell plays Steven. Additionally, in a similar fashion to the 2023 film, this one, too, crafts a tense, unsettling atmosphere with shocking depictions that venture deep into the psychological thriller territory.
3) Parasite (2019) - HBO max
Saltburn and Parasite both explore class divides, examining the gaps between the rich and the poor through compelling storytelling. Although, while the former deals with obsession, the latter explores greed, deception, and survival.
Having won the Oscar for Best Picture, Parasite takes on a dark comedy approach. Its plot centers around a struggling Kim family and their schemes to infiltrate the lives of the Parks, a wealthy household. From getting their son hired as an English tutor to seeking cunning ways to connect more dots, they leave no stone unturned in infiltrating the latter.
A morally grey storyline that has high-stakes tension, suspense, and desperation engulfs the audiences throughout its 132-minute runtime.
4) Gone Girl (2014) - Apple TV, Prime Video
Directed by David Fincher and based on Gillian Flynn’s 2012 novel, Gone Girl stars Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike as Nick and Amy Dunne. It is a gripping tale of hidden pasts, secrets, affairs, betrayals, murders, shock, and deception.
The plot follows Nick coming home to the police after Amy goes missing on the couple’s fifth wedding anniversary. However, a chamber of secrets opens up during the investigation.
A meticulously planned conspiracy shows Affleck’s character as the top suspect but harrowing twists and dark secrets towards the end shockingly change the story.
Saltburn and Gone Girl both play with the shock value of unexpected twists as the psychological thrills take audiences down a whirlwind storyline.
5) Thoroughbreds (2018) - Apple TV, Prime Video
Olivia Cooke as Amanda and Anya Taylor-Joy as Lily stand as the two major characters in Thoroughbreds, which follows the former as a teenager without empathy and the latter as a depressed soul, restarting their friendship after years.
Vowing to resolve their problems, the duo go down a path of manipulation and deceit by using those around them. However, this idea soon spirals out of control. Dark and chilling encounters lead to an intense climax. A disturbing finale connects both Saltburn and Thoroughbreds.
6) Ready or Not (2017) - hulu, FX Now
While Saltburn had Keoghan’s Oliver obsessing over and trying to win over Elordi’s character and his family, Ready or Not stars Samara Weaving as a newlywed bride, Grace, who has to fight for her life on her wedding night.
In this dark psychological horror flick, the "fun" begins when Grace learns the hidden truth behind a ritual of the Le Domas family she just wed into. A seemingly harmless hide-and-seek game turns into real-life hunting for human sacrifice.
Revealed gradually, the tension in every scene stays palpable and keeps the viewers guessing until the horror takes over and continues toward a gripping climax.
7) The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) - Paramount+
Nominated for five Academy Awards, The Talented Mr. Ripley centers around Matt Damon and his character of Tom Ripley. A struggling New Yorker, he earns his bread with small scams before falling prey to greed.
The plot has him change numerous identities and agree to a job offered by a shipping magnate to manipulate his son, Dickie, into returning to the United States. After an initial smooth sail, he becomes obsessed with the latter’s lifestyle and commits increasingly desperate acts to maintain his fabricated life.
Just like Saltburn, The Talented Mr. Ripley shows how some individuals can go to extreme lengths to achieve a wealthy lifestyle.
8) The Menu (2022) - fubo, FX Now, Prime Video
The plot follows Ralph Fiennes as Chef Slowik, the curator of an exclusive menu at a restaurant named Claude’s, located on a remote island. An elite couple, Anya Taylor-Joy’s Margot and Nicholas Hoult’s Tyler arrive one evening to get a taste of the unique menu. However, as they start relishing one course after another, things change from surreal to shocking and eventually terrifying as the chef’s true nature unfolds.
An extreme play of control, identity, perceptions, and morally ambiguous actions then takes place, offering a darkly humorous narrative, alike Saltburn.
Filled with mystery, introspection, horror, psychological drama, and dark obsessive disasters, these eight films should dial up the thrill for those who are on the lookout for something like Saltburn.
