The Menu (2022)
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A foodie and his date travel to a remote island to dine at an exclusive restaurant where the chef has prepared a menu with a shocking surprise.
The story
Wealthy foodie Tyler Ledford brings his date Margot Mills to Hawthorn, an exclusive restaurant on a private island operated by celebrity chef Julian Slowik. The group, consisting of various high-profile guests, is welcomed by maître d'hôtel Elsa. As dinner begins, Slowik introduces a series of increasingly unsettling courses. The atmosphere grows tense as the reality of the evening's purpose begins to surface, leaving the guests to face the consequences of their presence at the exclusive establishment.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Tyler Ledford and his date Margot Mills attend a dinner at Hawthorn, an exclusive island restaurant run by Julian Slowik. The guest list includes a food critic, a movie star, and several wealthy regulars. During the meal, Slowik reveals that the guests were invited because they have exploited the culinary arts. The evening turns violent as staff members are harmed or killed, and guests are forced to confront their roles in the industry. It is revealed that Tyler knew the danger but was desperate for the experience, and Margot was hired as a substitute. After a series of escalating events, Margot finds herself alone in the kitchen and later in the dining room. She manages to convince Slowik to prepare a simple cheeseburger, which he does with genuine joy. In the final course, Slowik sets the restaurant ablaze, killing himself and the others. Margot escapes in a boat, eating her burger as the restaurant burns.
- First release year
- 2022
- Runtime (minutes)
- 107
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Mark Mylod
- Writers
- Seth Reiss · writer; Will Tracy · writer
- Cast and characters
- Ralph Fiennes · Chef Slowik; Anya Taylor-Joy · Margot; Nicholas Hoult · Tyler; Hong Chau · Elsa; Janet McTeer · Lillian; John Leguizamo · a movie star; Judith Light · Anne
- Genres
- comedy; horror
- Themes
- exploitation of food artisans
- Premise and plot tags
- restaurant; island
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 71 · scale: 100 · review count: 45; CinemaScore · score: B · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 78%
- Awards and nominations
- Best Actor – Musical or Comedy · Golden Globe Awards · nomination; Best Actress – Musical or Comedy · Golden Globe Awards · nomination; Best Thriller Film · Saturn Awards · nomination
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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