On Nov. 17, 2023, “Saltburn” was released. Quickly following its release, the movie went viral; “Saltburn” took over social media, continuing its popularity. 

However, controversy came with this popularity. “Saltburn” is a thriller and comedy starring Barry Keoghan (Oliver). Oliver’s unfortunate living situation leads Jacob Elordi (Felix), a rich student, to invite Oliver to his family’s estate (Saltburn). 

Later, a series of horrifying events engulf Felix’s family. The controversy of this movie arises from the nudity involved in scenes. Some are left with questions.

Sophomore Linden Theiss shared her opinions on the overall movie and her thoughts revolving around the nudity in scenes.

“I thought it was gonna be like really sweet, and no one really warned me. I thought it was going to be like a rom-com situation,” Theiss said. “I felt violated the entire time.”

Even after watching the trailer and seeing clips from the media, Theiss was unprepared in all ways. The violation she described sparks from the nudity in scenes she believed to be unnecessary. 

Addison Hertzberg, a junior at State High, indulged in the popularity “Saltburn” received while contrasting the nudity in scenes.

“Definitely yes it lives up to its popularity, because of the actors in it and what they chose to do,” Hertzberg said. “Why did they make some scenes the way they did […] it’s really well thought out but it’s also really disturbing”.

Hertzberg talks about the popularity of the media that prepared her for the movie. After enjoying the movie, she was still left with disturbance derived from the nudity in certain scenes.

The actors, like every movie, are given a script for their lines and actions through these scenes. However, Barry Keoghan (Oliver) improvised one scene in particular that involved him and the grave of his friend. In an unsettling manner, which many were unprepared for, Keoghan brought nudity to the scene. 

As mentioned by Hertzberg, some viewers wondered why some scenes were made the way they were. On TikTok, reviews and edits of “Saltburn” were made, often covering the controversy of the movie’s nudity. 

Through the twists and turns of events, and surprise scenes, some viewers enjoyed the movie. A select number of individual audience members enjoyed the extemporaneous scenes. For some, the shock is their favorite part.

Yvie Desautels, a sophomore at State High, talks about others’ opinions and the movie’s popularity. In doing so, also discusses her enjoyment of the movie and the nudity in certain scenes.

“Everyone was saying that it was like a wild movie and everyone was like ‘oh my god this is so crazy you’re literally gonna like be so disgusted by this movie […] it’s so disturbing and so shocking’,” Desautels said. “I think it lives up to its popularity, but I don’t think it was like as crazily disturbing as people do say that it was […] I get why the nudity was in there […] I enjoyed the movie”

“Saltburn” made a memorable impact on its viewers. Whether or not this controversy was intended, is a question for many.