Young couple travel to a remote coastal island to dine at an exclusive restaurant where a mysterious chef has prepared a lavish menu. But it soon becomes clear that the pretentious, pampered dinner guests are about to be served some shocking surprises. A film by Mark Mylod, starring Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, Hong Chau, Janet McTeer, Judith Light, and John Leguizamo.

Foodie Tyler Ledford (Nicholas Hoult) and his date Margot Mills (Anya Taylor-Joy) travel by boat to dine at Hawthorn, an exclusive restaurant that charges $1,250 per head for a full-course dinner, on a private island run by celebrity chef Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes).

The other guests include food critic Lillian Bloom (Janet McTeer), who discovered chef Julian, and her editor Ted (Paul Adelstein); wealthy regulars Richard Leibbrandt (Reed Birney) and Anne Leibbrandt (Judith Light); formerly famous actor George Diaz (John Leguizamo) and his personal assistant Felicity Lynn (Aimee Carrero); and Bryce (Rob Yang), Soren (Arturo Castro), and Dave (Mark St. Cyr), finance firm employees who work for Doug Verrick (Michael Neal), Julian’s investor.

Upon arrival, Hawthorn’s maître d’ Elsa (Hong Chau), notices that Margot is not listed as Tyler’s guest on the reservation. It appears Margot was a last-minute replacement, likely because Tyler didn’t want to waste the expensive ($1,250) meal. This switch, however, throws a wrench in Chef Julien’s plans, as each dish is meticulously designed for a specific guest.

Directed by English filmmaker Mark Mylod from a screenplay by Seth Reiss and Will Tracy, the MENU is a gripping thriller with a dark secret that traps a group of people on a remote island with no escape.

The film excels at portraying a high-end restaurant with its unpredictable and terrifying twists. Each dish surprises us with its creativity and dark comedic tone. Take, for instance, the “Breadless Bread Plate” course – a plate of savory accompaniments arrives without bread! The chef explains, with a hint of darkness, that bread is for the poor, making it inappropriate for his wealthy guests. It’s a satirical take, mocking pretentious Michelin-starred course meal.

The next course takes an even more drastic turn than the previous ones. The scene escalates into violence and drama as a sous-chef shoots himself in the mouth before the next dish is served. This act throws the guests into disarray. Some panic, while others cling to the belief it’s a theatrical performance, not reality. However, Chef Julian soon reveals his true objective for the final course – a horrifying revelation that will make everyone part of the ingredients.

Part of the film’s fun lies in actively piecing together clues throughout each scene. We become investigators, trying to predict what unfolds next. Who is Margot, and what secrets does she hold? Why does Tyler react so strangely to the bizarre events? Could he be suffering from some kind of mental instability?

While the film builds suspense masterfully, the final reveal kind of falls flat. The meticulously crafted tension and thrills dissipate. The final twist’s lack of depth and the characters’ illogical choices further diminish the impact of what could have been a truly groundbreaking film.

Tthe MENU premiered at TIFF on 10 September 2022. The film was theatrically released in the United States on 18 November, by Searchlight Pictures.