The Menu, directed by Mark Mylod, who is most known for his work on TV show ‘Succession’, serves up a delicious and dark thriller that truly leaves you thinking… is this what the service industry does to a person? All jokes aside, this satirical horror on the pretentiousness of “foodie” culture will leave you simultaneously laughing and gasping out loud. The premise follows a couple, Tyler (Nicholas Hoult) and Margot (Anya Taylor Joy) as they travel to a remote, coastal island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where celebrity chef, Julian Slownik (Ralph Fiennes), has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking and horrific surprises.
It goes IN on the absurdity of highbrow and lavish food, and how ridiculous it can be, as well as the rich people who like to eat it. One of the courses features a selection of dips without bread, because the clientele is too sophisticated to eat bread. Head Chef Julian reminds his patrons not to ‘eat’ the food, but instead ‘taste!’ Soon into their meal, it becomes clear that this evening is going to become a lot darker than they anticipated. The horror elements never take themselves too seriously, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t moments that leave you wanting to cover your eyes to what is about to happen next.
Anya Taylor Joy is as amazing and stunning as usual, playing a strong-willed and honest Margot who finds this type of food as pretentious and silly as us watching. She was invited as a last-minute replacement date for Nicholas Hoult’s character Tyler, which shocks the chefs on the island, surprised by the sudden change in attendees which we discover was meticulously planned by the chef, and leads to them questioning Margot whether she is one of them, or one of the rich ‘takers’ with no real appreciation.
Ultimately, it leaves you thinking… this movie served. (Sorry, had to be done.)