stylish psychological drama salt burn strike Amazon Prime Video Released on December 22, 2023 after a limited theatrical release. The film is full of jaw-dropping moments, including the infamous bathtub drain scene, the grave hump scene, and a nude dance scene to Sophie Ellis-Bextor's disco-pop glory Murder on the Dance Floor. But how did we get there? Keep reading for a breakdown of the film's twisty ending.
Set in England, salt burn The film follows college student Oliver (Barry Keoghan) and his obsession with his wealthy colleague Felix (Jacob Elordi).
When Oliver makes up a story about his troubled family, Felix invites him to spend the summer at his family's mansion. There he meets Felix's parents, Sir James (Richard E. Grant) and Lady Elspeth (Rosamund Pike), his sister Venicia (Alison Oliver), and his cousin Farley (Archie Madekwe).
Felix eventually learns that Oliver was lying and asks him to leave the mansion after the already scheduled party is over. Oliver, saddened by the unreciprocated feelings of the man he loves, embarks on a spree that risks his life.
Curious what happens next? Here's what happens at the end of the movie.
salt burn Ending explanation
On the night of Oliver's birthday party, he seeks out Felix and attempts to mend their relationship. However, Felix rejects his invitation, expressing that he is still angry at Oliver's attitude. The next morning, Felix is found dead in the center of the hedge maze.
While having lunch with the others, Farley points out Oliver's suspicious behavior. Oliver mentions the drugs Farley keeps in his room. “If I were the one standing in line the night someone died, I would feel guilty too,” Oliver said in front of his family. Upon learning of this fact, James becomes furious and interrogates Farley, leading to him being kicked out of the house.
Felix's funeral ends with a short montage, leaving Oliver alone in the graveyard. Oliver wept at Felix's grave, and as the minutes passed, he slowly removed his clothes and posed himself at the burial site before joining his family at the reception.
Later, Oliver finds Venetia bathing in Felix's bathroom. She is upset that Oliver is wearing Felix's aftershave, and points out that he has only known Felix for six months. “You are a stranger,” she tells him. Oliver says “goodnight” to Felix's sister, but her sister condescendingly calls him a “hopeless” moth. The next morning, Benicia is found dead in the bathroom with her wrists cut.
After Benicia's death, James asks Oliver to leave Saltburn, despite his wife's concerns. Oliver refuses until James asks him to be his bride. After the time jump, Oliver reads in the newspaper that James has died and finds himself at Elspeth's favorite cafe. The two met and Elspeth still adores him. She expresses her sympathy for the way James treated him after Felix's death.
Elspeth invites Oliver to Saltburn, and the two spend several months together until Elspeth becomes ill. On his deathbed, Oliver reveals that he caused a “terrible accident” at Saltburn. “Are there really accidents?” he said to Elspeth's unresponsive body. Oliver reveals that after Felix was rejected, he poisoned himself and, despite his troubles with his mental health, offered Benicia the razor blade.
Oliver also planned a conflict with Elspeth, convincing her to hand over Saltburn and other financial assets to him. In the end, Oliver removes Elspeth's ventilator and kills her, watching as she gasps for air until her funeral scene begins.
In his final moments, Oliver dances naked in the vast grounds.
So did Oliver kill everyone? It seems so. Besides James, of course.
salt burn Currently available on Amazon Prime.
