"The Menu" Review: Don't Let This Sneak By You!
The Menu is not a film that will be advertised well. The trailers won’t do it justice because it’s hard to really tell what the film is about without spoiling something or oversharing. So it’s doomed from the start from a marketing perspective. You’ll just have to trust me that you should see this film if you enjoy smart, dark humor, and mysteries that reveal the truth in clever ways over the course of the films running time. Much like its main character’s menu, the movie is something you have to ride along with. As the slow burn story unfolds, the ending is delicious!
Margo (Anna Taylor-Joy) and Tyler (Nicholas Hoult) are one of many couples going to a nearby island to enjoy the food of Chef Slowik (Ralph Fiennes) at an exclusive restaurant called Hawthorne. Pairs may be a better word as not everyone is romantically involved, but one thing for sure, they’ve been chosen. We’re introduced to each patron in a bumbling fashion as they board the boat. There’s the power broker bros in Bryce (Rob Yang), Dave (Mark St. Cyr), and Soren (Arturo Castro). An actor past his heyday only known as a Movie Star (John Leguizamo) with his assistant Felicity (Aimee Carrero) provide screwball comedy, while an elderly couple Richard (Reed Birney), and Anne (Judith Light) give a glimpse of life on autopilot.
As the evening gets underway, we quickly see that at $1,250 per plate, most guests are there for either the lavish experience or to say they were there. Chef Slowik’s guests don’t have his attention when the first course is served. Yet as each course is dished, that quickly changes.
This film comes down to performance. The ensemble of personalities are what draws us in to care when we otherwise wouldn’t. Anna Taylor-Joy’s Margot is fun to watch as a misfit amongst the guests. Hong Chau is a stand out as Chef Slowik’s right hand, Elsa. She is devoid of emotion and yet her physical presence and delivery of dialogue commands respect. Fiennes exudes an unsettling calm in his cult-like figurehead.
While Fox Searchlight may be the studio behind this film, it feels more like an A24 movie. It is reminiscent of Midsommar in its dark mischief that toys with patrons in the film and viewers watching. Writers Seith Reiss and Will Tracy craft a story that touches on classism, obsession and desensitization. Director Mark Mylod uses the virtually one location shoot to his advantage. The visually intimate and beautiful set, slowly turns into a claustrophobic and horrifying space. This is definitely worth the price of admission! Just remember to tip your waiter.
Rating: B
