The Menu [2022] – Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult

The Menu mixes thrilling scenes and sarcastic comedy perfectly in a restaurant setting. I was happily surprised with the result.

Starring Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult, The Menu demonstrates how capitalism and its relationship to consumerism can actively suck the joy from creatives, particularly as they attempt to fulfil the needs of the most entitled consumers.

This gourmet show takes us the viewers thru a traditional service at an upscale restaurant. But each step of the menu takes unforeseen directions as a theatrical act.

With splashes of horror and comedy, the movie explores the world of fine dining restaurants. Black satire skewers the world of haute cuisine. Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult are great together. Even when Hoult was extra annoying, we, the viewers, fully believed him until the end.

As the service progressed, I got hungrier. Both for the food and for what’s going to happen next. Some characters were entitled, others just annoying. You can at least find one of the characters portrayed here in your daily life. Find them, slap them, and ask them to wake up. Yes, they won’t, but you’d be doing everyone a favor.

The movie captivated the audience in a way that held us hostage to Chef Slowik’s (Fiennes) emotional manipulation. This was cunningly executed.

Should You Watch It?

The Menu is an entertaining horror satire with a marvelous ensemble cast that is almost perfect. A commentary on capitalism sucking the life out of art. It is a film that I can see myself going back to again and again.

Where Can I Watch It?

You can stream The Menu on Disney+ everywhere.