I recently saw The Menu starring Anya Taylor Joy on opening day at my local theater. Despite going into the production blind, I found myself pleasantly surprised by the writing and directing, as well as by the performances given by all the actors.
This will be a spoiler-free review, so feel free to read on even if you’re planning on seeing it soon!
The Menu follows a group of rich socialites who travel to a private island for dinner at Hawthorne, an exclusive restaurant whose head chef is renowned in the world of fine dining. As the guests sit through each course served to them, they begin to suspect that not all is as it seems with celebrity chef Julian Slowik and his team of cooks, who have their own agenda for the night.
The film is being marketed as a “horror comedy” and for good reason; whether it be the hilariously written recipe cards that flashed across the screen with every course being served or the deadpan execution of certain lines, each joke or pun made was carefully planned out and intended for the audience to stew on. While the film initially reminded me of the horror-comedy Ready or Not starring Samara Weaving, or the absurdity of Cabin in the Woods, what differentiated The Menu from other horror movies I’ve watched is the way it never took itself too seriously, which was perfect for a film so ambitious— it perfectly toed the balance between dramatic and laugh out loud hilarious. Its dark humor, combined with how The Menu strayed from any of the expectations I initially had, made it so enjoyable for me. I found myself unable to predict the direction the movie was headed at any given moment, and this surprising subversion of expectations created a true roller coaster from start to finish.
The manner in which The Menu discussed sensitive subject manner was well-done. I appreciated the fact that the director and writers didn’t shy away from shining a spotlight on the natural social commentary that the film’s subject matter brought to the table. Whether it was the dichotomy between the guests, the working-class cooks, and the rags-to-riches Chef, or the food served (or not served, in one specific instance), the audience was taken on a journey to ponder class differences, the history of food, and how the most well-fed are often the most hungry.
As someone starved for raw talent, the performances of all the actors involved in this project blew me away. Ralph Fiennes was just the right amount of standoffish and creepy as the elusive chef Slowik, and Nicholas Hoult perfected the annoyingly ignorant, stuck-up Tyler as best as anyone could. Anya Taylor Joy stole the stage with her electric performance as the main lead, Margot, who is immediately alluring with her dismissive and careless attitude towards the restaurant and its chef. Whether she was fighting for her life or trying to outsmart the other guests, Margot exemplified a smart, capable, independent, well-written female character— one that is hard to get exactly right, even in horror, where female characters are a dime a dozen. For me personally, watching Anya Taylor Joy go from the lead in the thriller Split in 2016 to The Queen’s Gambit to The Menu represents the best of talent in the television and film industry: one that transcends genre. Her acting seems to only evolve with each new project she stars in.
After letting the film marinate for a few days, I can wholeheartedly say that The Menu is horror-comedy dished out rare, with a side helping of stunning cinematography and gorgeous still-shots. The chef’s recommendation? Go into it hungry for a fresh twist to the best of its respective genres. The Menu is the perfect film to have you on the edge of your seat on a Friday night.