The Menu

Food lovers from across all nations, regardless of color or race, culture or tradition. Director Mark Mylod invites you to experience first-hand, the exclusive world of fine dining on – the Menu.

Once again, this is one film that I decided not to watch the trailer for being afraid that it may give away too much about the movie, and a wise choice I must say it was.

Released on the 18th of November 2022 by distributor Searchlight Pictures, the film features a small yet equally talented cast in the likes of Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Nicolas Hoult for starters.

We follow the events of a young couple traveling to a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises.

However, this is not your ordinary menu that’s been prepared, this is a menu that’s been crafted with the utmost precision, dedication, and care. In simple words, it’s to die for.

The director does a phenomenal job when first introducing the cast to us, which quickly lets us understand that the Island we’re about to go to and the chef’s food we’re about to see are privy only to a select few.

A select few individuals are a top food critic and her magazine editor, a rich old couple, a fallen actor that’s trying to live his golden days with his assistant, a couple of I.T Tech men, and our couple that includes a food influencer and a lady of the night if you read in-between the lines.

As the service begins and our customers are presented with their food, little by little you begin to pick up small hints that something isn’t quite right here.

You have these beautifully presented dishes, however, how the food is unveiled to the customer comes off as somewhat aggressive and unsettling at moments.

However, once you get to the fourth course a.k.a The Mess, is when the veil is lifted from over our heads and everything comes to light that this is a satire.

What The Menu is essentially trying to tell us is that the world is full of predators that know little about the amount of work and effort one puts into making their craft a meal, only for people such as myself (a reviewer) who know little to nothing about food criticize them, take pictures of their work and post it online, however, when that same person is put in front of the stove, they will not know where to even begin.

Realizing this fact sent chills down my spine because it quickly become obvious that all these people sitting in one room may or may not survive this night but what could the actor have done that is so bad that he had to be included?

Though I have said many scary things about the movie itself, there is also comedy, dark comedy to be exact which thrives in our setting mostly taking place in one secluded room but there is a happy ending to all of this, which comes in the form of a cheeseburger, I love me a burger without a doubt.

Ralph Fiennes as Chef Slowik is so menacing and intimidating throughout the entire movie and yet whenever he introduces the next course he shows a cynical smile on his smile as if saying to the customers, you poor fools don’t realize that this is your last night.

Anya Taylor-Joy is also an absolute marvel to watch, I don’t know whether it was her strong, never-bending character or the look of disbelief that said it in her eyes but watching her and her partner Tyler played by Nicholas Hoult sitting on the chair eating his food as if nothing was happening in front of them was like the clear contrast between night and day.

I enjoyed every moment of this The Menu from start to finish, it has the perfect amount of tension, buildup, and thriller working alongside the dark comedy that I had to watch twice.

I’d love to say I wish I could have the entire menu but if I had to choose one it’d have to be that juicy cheeseburger.

I give the Menu a 4 out of 5 rating.

Let us know in the comments below whether you agree or disagree with our review of the Menu and let’s get the conversation started.

Until next time, stay blessed.