Photo by Photo Credit: Eric Zachanowich/Eric Zachanowich - © 20th Century Studios.

Dining in a luxurious restaurant serving 13 courses is a delightful way to spend your night… or is it? Director Mark Mylod uses his film The Menu to send a powerful critique towards consumerism and social appearances. Released in September 2022 and produced by Searchlight pictures, this film creates a perfect blend between Comedy and horror, making it enjoyable while keeping the viewer at the edge of their seat. With an outstanding cast including Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Fiennes, and Nicholas Hoult, The Menu is able to transmit a message through the amazing work these actors put into their roles. The film follows the characters through their journey in this prestigious and exclusive restaurant located in a private island, where they are not only in for a night of delightful food but also many more surprises, culminating in an unexpected way and leaving the viewer hungry for more. 

The Menu’s fascinating plot follows a group of diners through an exclusive experience in one of the fanciest restaurants there is, Hawthorne. Located in a remote island with no service, Hawthorne will serve their diners with 13 courses that are more than just food… an experience per se. with every course representing something new, I as a viewer found the movie to be incredibly immersing, with a plot twist right around the corner to keep me on edge the whole time. Mylod gives the film such a dark twist with the use of humor in between the suspense and eerie atmosphere. Every character and their personality represent a different aspect of society that is being criticized, with a special course being served to each one of them, as a part of Chef’s sadist plan. As the plot unfolds, the movie gains more depth while keeping the comedic relief aspect, creating a perfect blend between tension and irony that makes the movie stand out from other thrillers. 

According to screenwriter Will Tracy, the idea for this film came to him while on his honeymoon in Norway, where he went on a boat to a restaurant on a private island and had to stay in the island for the duration of the meal. 1 Using this true story as the main concept for the plot just helps give more power to the social critique that the movie wants to send; the existence of a restaurant like the one in the movie serves as evidence for the fact that nowadays culinary arts have been lost behind pretentious ideals. In addition to this, director Mark Mylod has helped in series such as Shameless (2011) and he brings that twisted humor and irony into The Menu, like the perfect seasoning for a horror movie.  

The Menu contains amazing performances that give the movie the essence and atmosphere it was looking for. Ralph Fiennes’ role as the chef and his lifeless way of delivering every single line, really portrays that hatred and resentment that chef Julian Slowik has inside him, giving it the perfect amount of sarcasm to add to the comedic aspect of the movie. Every time Chef gives a speech to introduce one of his plates, Fiennes tells the story in such a way that it creates a foreshadowing for the chaos that is about to unfold for the guest, making it intriguing for the viewer and placing an unsettling feeling in your gut. Another performance worth mentioning is Anya Taylor-Joy’s work in her character Margo, really selling the idea that Margo is not like the other pretentious diners that chef Slowik had that night, she really knows how to play this character in such a way that makes the viewer root for her and hope that her destiny turns to be different than that of the rest of the people in the island that night. Contributing to the greatness of this film, its scenery and visual effects are the cherry on top. With amazing scenography, nature shots of the island and its surroundings, the dim lighting in the restaurant navigating that thin line between eerie and intimate, these all paint a picture of how exclusive the dinner was going to be, while also letting room for foreshadowing elements to the end of the movie, like a meal to the eyes. 

All in all, this film is great if you’re interested in a night full of suspense and satire. I can’t guarantee that your stomach will be full by the end of this movie, but I can guarantee that you will be engrossed in the plot of the movie, and, by the end of the movie, you may or may not learn a lesson in enjoying the simpler things in life. I would highly recommend this movie if you are looking for a quick watch that will keep you on your toes. With great acting, an original plot, and immersive visual effects, The Menu offers a variety of emotions and experiences. It is a great quick-watch and I found it to be highly entertaining, definitely a movie that is worth watching, if you have the stomach for it.