The Menu is a 2022 comedy horror film that made its debut to critical acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival. While the film garnered no Oscar nominations, its unique storytelling, striking visuals, and unsettling atmosphere have made it popular with fans of dark humor and critics of fine dining alike. In a media market saturated with superhero films, biopics, and remakes of beloved classics, The Menu is a breath of fresh air, presented with a sarcastic bite that appeals to those tired of surface-level movies. Indeed, as the movie progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that there is more to the story than meets the eye.
Twelve guests make their way to Hawthorne, the newest fine dining experience located on a remote island accessible only by boat, for a multicourse meal that costs a staggering 1,250 United States dollars (USD) per person. However, from the peculiar kitchen staff to the odd celebrity chef at the head of the operation, it is immediately apparent that the atmosphere is off. Similar to cult behavior and practices, the characters in The Menu are also part of an exclusive “club” that justifies their outrageous behavior. The film’s dark colors and slow, haunting music permeate each scene, building an entire world within the restaurant where most of the movie takes place. Sleek wooden designs and elegant furniture immediately show the viewer exactly where they are – at a restaurant so pretentious and self-serious it is essentially a parody of itself.
Feast For Your Eyes
The visual elements of The Menu are undoubtedly one of the major reasons the film has attracted strong critical attention. As the plot unravels, the tension builds alongside the soaring, evocative score, crafting a well-rounded artistic experience for the viewer. Many critics and fans alike have recommended watching the film in an environment as close to that of a cinema as possible in order to fully enjoy the sounds and sights without any outside interruptions. The immersive experience offered by the director and artists of The Menu is best enjoyed like fine cuisine – savored with intention.
Films about cults tend to have an air of unease and helplessness, and this is true for The Menu as well. While the cultish elements are exaggerated for the purpose of dark humor, they are nevertheless eerie and impactful, and those who enjoy horror and thriller films would surely savor the audio and visual components offered up in this film as well. The story unfolds through the various courses of Hawthorne’s menu, which is comprised of classic fine-dining cliches such as absurdly small plates of food and pretentious difficult-to-gather ingredients. These are more details meant to enhance the viewer’s experience, and they are outlandishly presented to drive home the anti-capitalist message of the film. The very obvious imitation of a real fine-dining experience allows the viewers to laugh at a world that is likely out of their reach.
Cream of the Crop
Fine dining is a world built for the elite. Its traditions, secrecy, and exclusivity contribute to its appeal while also being a canvas for truly bizarre events to occur. Because highly rated restaurants are accessible to so few people, its mystique creates a perfect setting for horror to unfold. Much like Parasite or Snowpiercer, the wealth-filled backdrop of the film feels unnerving. When the food critic that comes to Hawthorne is served a platter of dipping sauces without any bread to dip in them, she points out in delight how “fiendish” the concept, a statement which could really only be made by a highly-regarded food critic in a conceptually complicated restaurant.
Fine dining has become so desirable that it even bleeds into Korean culture. Almost all of the most expensive restaurants in Seoul serve French cuisine with a price tag equivalent to that of many students’ monthly meal budget, and there seems to be little, if any, Korean influence in these restaurants. The critique of traditional European fine dining as an imperialist practice could be interesting to keep in mind for those watching the film. Highbrow restaurants and meals are not accessible to most people in Korea, and their status as highly regarded establishments may be further interrogated after audiences watch The Menu, which is packed full of social messages and meta-commentary.
Its Bread and Butter
Criticisms made within the world of The Menu touch upon sexism, classicism, and capitalism, all with a sarcastic edge. The film takes on misogyny within the culinary world as well as the socioeconomic tension between service workers and their clients, all in an absurdist manner typical of classic films from this genre. The messages delivered here are nothing extremely new or nuanced, but they are especially powerful when paired with the delicious visual and auditory components the creators behind the film have crafted. Online reviewers of the film mention thinking twice about their waiters and the lives of the chefs in the restaurants they frequent, all as a result of the depiction of the working class and the rigidity of fine cuisine.
People who enjoy critical films about the upper class and/or horror films would certainly find this recent release worthwhile. While viewers may not learn anything new from it, the acting and writing in The Menu are sure to provide an unforgettable movie-watching experience. The director’s take on luxury and mayhem is poignant and packed tightly into a neat, 107-minute story with the look and feel of a modern-day horror classic. The Menu is an exciting film to watch precisely because it manages to deliver somewhat trendy messages in a fresh way, especially within the difficult-to-pull-off genre of dark comedy horror. The comedy is derived from the ridiculous dialogue and situations being presented via sleek and classical cinematography, although horror elements are nevertheless present. Suffice to say, those with a weak stomach should take caution before watching.
Film Information
Release Date: December 7, 2022
Genre: Suspense, Thriller, Black Comedy
Director: Mark Mylod
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Fiennes, Nicholas Hoult
Running Time: 106 minutes
Streaming Platform: Disney+
Naama Benamy Schoneveld
naama@korea.ac.kr