The Menu

 Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult,
Hong Chau, John Leguizamo, Janet McTeer,
Judith Knight, Paul Adelstein

"Wonderful surprises await you all"

A group are invited to feast on the gastronomic delights of renowned Chef Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes) in his restaurant called Hawthorne on a secluded, private island. An elderly couple who are regulars, a food critic and her editor, three guys in the tech industry, a foodie fanatic and his girlfriend and a has been actor with his female assistant. All of them are affluent as the exclusive full course dining experience is not cheap, at all.

As the evening progresses from the first course to the next, the diners brutally realize they were personally chosen by Chef Slowik. Each course is specifically designed to make his guests very uncomfortable. It is like a can of worms is unleashed upon the exquisitely, well conceived dishes. It turns out Chef Julian has a lot of ax to grind not only against his moneyed guests but against the whole fine dining industry, itself.

Both Ralph Fiennes and Anya Taylor-Joy’s portrayal of multi-faceted, layered characters was brilliant. The ensemble cast was effectively good, as well. Do pay special attention to Anya Taylor-Joy as Margot, she is the main ingredient in this dark comedy that simmers to expose what ails the restaurant industry. The movie is a social commentary on the food industry. From sexual harassment, inequality in the service industry, the cancel culture of the food media, the canonization of popular Michelin star chefs and elitism in the fine dining world.

Make sure, you have a firm stomach as some of the scenes can be quite explicitly shocking. Much like the guests who are trapped with no chance of escaping the evil designs of Chef Julian, you will be engrossed and riveted until the fiery end.