The best type of horror stories are those which are told through an unconventional lens. For some horror films, the stories are so uniquely crafted that they don't necessarily feel like a horror tale despite very much being so. With Searchlight Pictures The Menu, the film blends elements of horror within its story along with black comedy. The result is an effectively humorous and terrifying spin on the food industry that serves as being a deliciously fun satire of the rich.
The Menu's plot centers around a young couple traveling to a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where its chef has prepared a lavish menu with a shocking twist. The story is essentially one that takes aim at the rich and wealthy while showing how creative people can go unappreciated for all their efforts with them finally deciding to exact revenge in the most cruel fashion. What The Menu offers is an enjoyably delicious experience that carries all the right ingredients to make it desirable for audiences while shining a darkly funny light on the food industry.
It can be said that much of the films effectiveness as a horror story is largely attributed to the level of devotion put forth by the films outstanding ensemble. Both Ralph Fiennes and Anya Taylor-Joy deliver the films strongest performances with Fiennes nailing it as celebrity chef Julian Slowik, who owns an exclusive restaurant located on a private island. Fiennes is mesmerizing as the films hellish chef who makes little effort to hide his contempt for the unappreciative attitude he's received from wealthy privileged guests and decides to put them through the ultimate hellish nightmare. He is absolutely chilling to watch with Anya Taylor-Joy impressively matching his performance as Margot Mills, the date of Tyler's character whose revealed to be an escort who previously served another wealthy guest at the restaurant. Joy plays her character as being cool and collective with her character serving as a strong contrast to Tyler's blind obsession with chef Slowik. Her scenes with Fiennes are among the films best and do much to increase the stories intensity. Nicholas Hoult does a terrific job playing Erin's boyfriend Tyler with his character coming across as being an obsessive fanatic of Slowik. He does a fine job of making audiences despise his character. The rest of Menu's cast present strong performances including John Lequizamo as washed up movie star George, Aimee Carrero as his personal assistant Felicity, Janet McTeer as food critic Lillian, Hong Chau as Slowik's assistant Elsa, Paul Adelstein as Lillian's assistant Ted, Reed Burney and Judith Light as regulars Richard and Anne, with Arturo Castro, Mark St. Cyr, and Rob Yang as business partners Soren, Dave, and Bruce.
The directing by Mark Mylod is wonderfully handled with him cleverly combining shocks with clever laughs, relevant themes, and shockingly gruesome moments involving blood splatters, a character blowing his brains out unexpected infront of everyone, and characters being burnt alive (Yes, you read that correctly). The film is well-shot with brilliant cinematography that helps to heighten the films level of tension with the background design giving the feel that these characters are in a luxurious place of wine and dine. At 106 minutes, The Menu's story remains relatively fast-paced with the films first half carefully establishing all the restaurants guests, as well as the key players in the kitchen while steadily building up the suspense. When the story switches into horror film mode, it never lets go of the audience until its shocking climax. In terms of overall direction, Myloid does a damn fine job of crafting a new kind of nightmare for audiences while making some valid points regarding societal structures.
With The Menu's writing, the script examines all the personal anxieties, frustration, and deep horrors of working in the food service industry, as well as the lack of acknowledgement and appreciation for the effort that go into preparing such exquisit meals for others. Fiennes character Slowik, serves as a manifestation of these attitudes as he makes little effort to hide his true feelings of disgust towards the attitudes of many of his wealthy hosts. The writing does an exceptional job of utilizing the films first act to establish important character arcs while giving insight to each of Slowik's guests. The latter are shown to be entitled individuals with one-dimensional depth that was always meant to be intentional with driving home the films main point. In addition, the audience also learns that Margot has taken the place of Tyler's wife, which immediately alarms Slowick as it throws off everything that was originally planned. What makes The Menu work so well is the unexpected twists and turns that keeps audiences in suspense when revealing that there's something truly sinister lurking beneath the surface regarding the Chef's plans. One key sequence involving a suicide will shock audiences as equally as it does the characters in the film. The slow shifting of the films tone from being black comedy to something sinister is thrilling with the revelation of people's dark secrets keeping audiences at the edge of their seat. As far as writing goes, The Menu does a commendable job of setting up its story and characters while rejecting the urge to succumb to typical horror film cliches.
Although it certainly won't be everyone's cup of tea and it doesn't go all the way in maximizing the full potential of its horror elements, The Menu still delivers a tightly constructed atmospheric thriller that's smart, stylishly filmed, and gets its main points across regarding wealth and egos while doing so in a fashion that's pleasing. Food lovers will undoubtedly get a kick out of all the cue card name droppings from each meal shown throughout the film with the stories satirical approach delivering an immensely fun experience. Like the meals being painstakingly prepared by Chef Slowick's team, The Menu is a deliciously fun surprise that masterfully terrifies audiences in a creative way while having a delight in doing so.
Final Verdict: SEE IT.
Images courtesy of Searchlight Pictures
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