The Menu
Overview
The Menu is a 2022 satirical horror thriller film directed by Mark Mylod, starring Ralph Fiennes as Chef Julian Slowik, a world-renowned, obsessive, and deranged chef; Anya Taylor-Joy as Margot Mills, a young woman who is not who she seems to be; and Nicholas Hoult as Tyler, a wealthy, pretentious foodie who is obsessed with Chef Slowik. The film is set on a private island, at an exclusive, $1,250-per-person restaurant called Hawthorn. The guests are a group of wealthy, entitled, and deeply flawed individuals: a food critic, Lillian Bloom (Janet McTeer), who destroyed Slowik's career; a movie star, George Diaz (John Leguizamo), who is famous for a forgettable action film; a trio of obnoxious tech bros; and Tyler, who is a superfan. The menu is a 12-course meal, and each course is a commentary on the guests and their sins. The film is a darkly comedic satire of the high-end food industry, the cult of celebrity, and the entitled elite. The film ends with Margot, who is actually a sex worker hired by Tyler, escaping the island. She is the only survivor. Chef Slowik and the other guests are killed when the restaurant explodes. The Menu was a critical and commercial success, earning over $79 million on a $30 million budget. Ralph Fiennes was praised for his performance, and the film was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
