Saltburn
Summary
There are multiple layers ofmeaning behind Oliver saltation to " Murder on the Dancefloor " in the last scene ofSaltburnthat may not be patent on the airfoil . Written and directed by Emerald Fennell , Saltburnis abouta low-pitched - class Oxford student named Oliver Quick ( Barry Keoghan ) , who is invited by his rich friend Felix Catton ( Jacob Elordi ) to spend the summertime at his menage ’s too-generous Saltburn estate of the realm . As the summer progresses , Oliver becomes more and more haunted with Felix while grow nigher to the Catton family unit . After successfully inherit the Saltburn landed estate from Felix ’s female parent , Elspeth , upon her passing , Oliver light-headedly dances around the Saltburn residence to Sophie Ellis - Bextor ’s 2001 pop strike , " slaying on the Dancefloor " in the one - shotfinal sceneofSaltburn . The scene became a viral sensation on TikTok , causing the23 - year - old birdsong to commence charting again afterSaltburn ’s release . However , the meaning behind both the song choice and Oliver ’s dance attire ( or deficiency thereof ) go way beyond its pop culture relevance .
The official soundtrack of Emerald Fennell ’s saturnine comedy film Saltburn features a number of popular indie rock and EDM off from the mid-2000s .
Oliver’s “Murder On The Dancefloor” Scene Highlights Him Victoriously Removing His Masks After Inheriting Saltburn
Oliver’s nudity in the dance scene is symbolic
One of the reasons the closing scene ofSaltburnis so significant is thatOliver is in full naked while dance around Saltburn , which connects back to his master plan to take down the Cattons and inherit Saltburn . Though there wereclues to Oliver ’s legerdemain inSaltburn , it was never made well-defined why he lie about sure aspects of his life story . However , Saltburn ’s endingreveals that Oliver had been meticulously project to pass through the Catton family and acquire their fortune the whole time . In lodge to accomplish his goal , Oliver had to go to smashing lengths to conceal his true intentions from the Cattons . This involved putting on a different enactment for each Catton family appendage to either gain their faith or pose a threat to them . By the last ofSaltburn , Oliver had put so much fourth dimension and effort into cozen the Cattons by disguising his true self and pretend to be somebody else . Now that they ’re all dead and he has the key to the castle , he can at last take off the many masks he ’d been wearing to keep them fooled . Oliver ’s nudity in the final panorama typify his ultimate sacking from the ego - levy facadehe’d borrow for the Cattons . AsSaltburnchoreographer , Polly Bennett , put it , by dancing raw around Saltburn , Oliver is formally " shed[ding ] the veneer " and showing the viewer " who he actually is " ( viaVulture ) . for capture this sense of joyous exemption , Bennett wanted the dance function , which was part prompt by Fred Astaire ’s iconic moves and Joaquin Phoenix ’s step - saltation shot inJoker , to feel " like a channel , like you do when you ’ve got euphony playing and you ’re harum-scarum . ”However , Oliver ’s dance inSaltburnis as much about marking his newfound territoryas it is about stripping away the disguise he wore to get this district . " He iswaking from a layer that is n’t his , in a house that is n’t his , " Bennett explains , " and moving naked through corridors that are n’t his . " In this way of life , Oliver ’s theatrical showing is “ a dance of utmost ownership , " a jubilant celebration of his successful acquisition of Saltburn . He prances through the mansion of Saltburn in the nude because he can , because the whole stead belong to him now .
Since Saltburn ’s compelling dramatic event is mainly motor by its well - write case beats , one can not help but inquire who plays whom in the movie .
What Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s “Murder On The Dancefloor” Song Lyrics Mean (& How They Relate To Saltburn)
The lyrics closely apply to Oliver’s actions
Another intellect Oliver ’s terpsichore scene is significant is because of the birdcall pick . Despite its upbeat pacing and catchy pulsation , as the title would suggest , thelyrics to " Murder on the Dancefloor " are really quite dark . As illustrated by the music video , the song is about a unpitying participant in a saltation competition usingcutthroat manoeuvre to take their opponents out of the running . As such , a figurative " slaying on the dancefloor " is essentially taking situation , as the objector is wiping out the competition .
While the song may not be about someone committing actual murder on the dancefloor , when interpreted literally , the lyric poem to " slaying on the Dancefloor " apply exceptionally well to Oliver ’s actions inSaltburnbeyond the fact that he ’s a dance manslayer . For instance , in the first rhyme , Ellis - Bextor sings , " I know / About your kind / And so / I’ll have to play . " The conclusion reveals Oliver already knew all about Felix ’s " tolerant , " i.e. the excessively wealthy . In club to get what he want , Oliver knew he ’d have to " recreate " the game by fetch in with Felix ’s house . In the 2nd pre - chorus , Ellis - Bextor sings , " if you think you ’re getting away / I will prove you wrong / I’ll blow you all away . " This speaks directly to Oliver ’s continuity in prosecute Felix and carrying out the demise of the Catton class to secure the the three estates for himself . " Blow you away " can either mean to impress or kill someone , both of which appertain to Oliver ’s charade . The thematic relevance of the lyric poem to " Murder on the Dancefloor " to the outcome ofSaltburnmake the song the perfect soundtrack to Oliver ’s grand finale second .
Oliver Originally Wasn’t Going To Have A Dance Scene In Saltburn’s Ending
It wasn’t supposed to be the final scene of Saltburn, either
Oliver dancing to " Murder on the Dancefloor " is such a monolithic moment inSaltburn , it ’s intemperate to conceive that it almost did n’t bechance at all . Bennett revealed thatthe scene was n’t to begin with written to be a saltation sequence in the script forSaltburn . “Initially , in the stage direction … it was just Oliver walking through the sign , " she explain . However , Fennell afterwards decided to spice up the tantrum and tot a dance routine to " Murder on the Dancefloor , " and the rest was history . Even after it became a dancing sequence , though , it still was n’t intended to be the final scene of the movie . The setting that was originally supposed to close outSaltburngot slice during editing , which was for the best . As Bennett remark , having the dancing scene at the very end swear out to " solve Oliver ’s physical body of mind . " Oliver ’s flush at at last achieving his deranged , long - term destination is absolutely exemplified through his enthusiastic , unworried , and slightly clumsy dancing and the all - too - applicable lyrics to " Murder on the Dancefloor , " making it the best way to cap offSaltburn . Source : Vulture
Cast
