“The Menu” - My Thoughts 💭

The film starts with a “title card” stating that you are invited to “The Menu” - although if you have seen the trailer there is a risk that you just might find yourself on it! This film won’t work for everyone. Described as a comedy-thriller; it operates on an allegorical level rather than straight-forward storytelling. In some ways this works, yet an over the top climax doesn’t hit emotionally and more so in an obscure black-comedy fashion in its bleak satire of a blatantly consumerist society and class divides. Within the first 30 minutes you frequently wonder where all this is heading - yet there are a number of little twists (just really left of centre ones) and whether or not you find these satisfying is purely up to personal taste.

“The Menu” concerns a number of small groups of guests that are mostly upper class citizens keen to try celebrated Chef Julian Slowik’s (Ralph Fiennes) renowned dishes at the Hawthorn restaurant situated on a private island. The menu itself consists of seven to eight courses that become increasingly surprising for the guests as well as the audience. It is a tantalising concept for fans of black humour and social commentary, or those that enjoy reality TV shows set in the culinary world. As the guests begin to critique the dishes before them (much to the chef’s chagrin) we start to wonder whether it is an elaborate hoax, a T.V show being filmed or just an absurd carnival that asks us whether we are the giver, the taker and whether or not we even deserve a spot on this planet. The film takes a little while to heat up, but when it does you are frequently trying to work things out philosophically and dramatically. Allow yourself to be confused, as that might help you unlock the meanings and themes of this piece helmed by one of the directors of TV’s “Succession” Mark Mylod.

The performances of the cast are more than adequate, yet overall there is the feeling that these characterisations, while representing facets of our contemporary society aren’t exactly richly layered. Anya Taylor-Joy is seemingly popping up everywhere of late and she is as intriguing and alluring as ever here. She stars alongside Nicholas Hoult as a young couple Margot and Tyler, with the latter who is obsessed with the world of high-end restaurants. Other entitled guests include Janet McTeer who play a food critic and John Leguizamo who plays a top-knob movie star. Hong Chau (most recently lauded for her performance in “The Whale”) also appears as Elsa, the stern host of the exclusive Hawthorn. Ralph Fiennes’ lead performance helps orchestrate the frequently odd and foreboding tone of the film without jeopardising the comedic irony of his role. “The Menu” has a large cast, but the focus of the film is really on the symbolic and social commentary the director wishes to purport that we don’t get to see these characters as real flesh and blood. And maybe that’s partly the point. I only wish the dialogue had a bit more snap, crackle and pop throughout, but overall I believe it’s even worth a rewatch to pick up on particular elements to gain a greater understanding of the film’s intentions, after all there are many YouTubers out there outlining and answering what the hell is this film really about?

This darkly-comic allegorical drama might pass you by, yet don’t let it. Its strange effect is unlike most other movies of the minute. In fact, we have been getting a few films of late such as the recent “Barbarian” and its humorous social commentary in the horror vein, that again plays with tropes instead of turning the tales into pure cliché.

I am giving “The Menu” 3.5 tasty s’mores out of five

You can now check out “The Menu” on streaming (on Disney+ in Australia) and DVD/Blu-ray

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You can also check out my recent film review of “The Northman” here:

Check out the trailer for “The Menu” below: