TIFF 2022 | MOVIE REVIEW: "The Menu"; A Tantalizing Thriller To Indulge In
12/12 ForReel Score | 5/5 Stars
If this were an audible review, I'd begin it with a loud, startling clap, because that’s how world-renowned Chef Slowik, played by Ralph Fiennes, begins each course in The Menu with an acute attention grabbing effect. At $1,250 a person and a two person minimum to book, dining at the Hawthorne restaurant is designed to be an exquisite experience, all for the love of great food and in adoration of the craft of his work. "Do not eat,” Chef Slowik explains in his opening remarks to this particular evening’s guests. “Savor. Relish. Be mindful. But do not eat." These actions, details, and remarks set a high class tone for the evening at hand.
The other thing Chef Slowik offers his guests that I wish I could enhance this review with is his keen element of surprise, because it may come as no surprise at all that I thoroughly enjoyed director Mark Mylod's latest film, written by comedy writers Seth Reiss and Will Tracy. But the surprises that the Chef has up his sleeve for this evening are - to put it lightly - unsettling, ably weaving comedy with a fascinating thriller premise. And it can’t be expected that the guests of this exclusive event nor the moviegoing audience are prepared for what is going to occur.
In The Menu, Nicholas Hoult (Tolkien) and Anya Taylor-Joy (The Northman) play a young couple named Tyler and Margot who partake in this high class fine dining dinner experience, headed as mentioned by Chef Slowik. Tyler, a self proclaimed foodie, is thrilled about the opportunity to exercise his food knowledge and taste what is considered to be the best food in the world. Margot, on the other hand, is simply tagging along, entirely passive about the art or complexity of food and nonconforming to the establishment’s rigid social standards. The wealthy cast of characters that they are amongst all have their own connections to this establishment, and more importantly, their own secrets, each course offering surprises aimed at gradually exposing them. There comes a point, though, when the evening takes a dark turn, and what began as a cordial world class experience devolves into something far more disturbing.
Image courtesy of TIFF
That is all that I can express regarding the premise because The Menu is a film that is best served to audiences cold - that’s to say, the less you know about the film, the better the viewing experience. What I can say, though, is that The Menu is a delectable descent into its perturbed premise, decadently garnished with comical quips, suspenseful surprises, and superb performances. Fiennes plays Chef as a passionate, stern, meticulous, and steadfast head chef who has perfectly disciplined his staff to labor tirelessly in Hawthorne’s open, guest-facing kitchen; a staff who almost militantly follows orders, preparing plates and tweezing garnishments into the exact right configurations. The poise and stoic demeanor that Fiennes brings to the role exudes the sense of intimidation that makes The Menu feel uneasy even before there’s real reason to feel uneasy.
Other standout performances include Hong Chau, who also impressed in another TIFF selected standout film, The Whale - one you can read Taylor Beaumont's review on. Here in The Menu, she plays Chef Slowik's loyal sous chef, Elsa, who goes to extraordinary lengths to accommodate guests and the Chefs increasingly demanding requests. Chau is excellent at giving Elsa her own suspiciously stoic demeanor, acting out standard hospitality practices, but also breaking hospitality norms to serve Chef’s intentions in low-key comedic ways. When a table of tech dudes respond boisterously in protest of one of the courses served, how Elsa whispers to the ringleader, “You’ll eat less than you desire, and more than you deserve,” is a simultaneously subtle, menacing, and humorous way to communicate who is in control. Hoult, while being a main character, also acts most consistently as the film’s comic relief character, perfectly portraying Tyler’s self-absorbed and aloof disposition that often and hilariously runs counter to the situation at hand.
And then, there's Anya Taylor-Joy as Margot. Self-respecting, headstrong, and defiant, it's her performance that truly beams throughout The Menu. The confidence she brings to this role makes standout moments for her character punchy and fierce. In the face of the power and intimidation that Chef holds over most of the other guests, Taylor-Joy makes Margot her own force to be reckoned with in what is one of the most cheer-worthy performances of this year’s TIFF selected films.
With these top-notch performances, a smartly written script, and a ghastly series of events, The Menu is sure to set itself apart as one of the most entertaining films of this season; surely, one that audiences will want to talk a lot about after watching when it releases just before American Thanksgiving - a befitting time to take in a film about the love of food. So if you are looking for the most ideal way to watch The Menu, I strongly suggest seeking an in-theater screening as soon as possible in order to avoid spoilers. After all, both food and this movie are best when they can be savored and relished before they’re spoiled.
Acting and Casting - 2 | Visual Effects and Editing - 2 | Story and Message - 2 | Entertainment Value - 2 | Music Score and Soundtrack - 2 | Reviewer's Preference - 2 | What does this mean?