The Menu (2022)

Directed by Marc Mylod

Searchlight Pictures invites you to experience the Menu

A young couple is shipped off to an exclusive island to experience the food of their lifetime at the Hawthorne, a coveted fine dining experience taking on only 12 guests at a time for $1250 per guest. The island is a complete ecosystem with the food grown, harvested and prepared there, as well the staff residing there with famous Chef Slowik overseeing his small kingdom. Everything is prepared to perfection, everyone moves in unison and the guests are invited to use all of their senses to relish The Menu.

Hors d’oeuvre Sourdough/Beet and Chicory Foam/Cucumber Relish Caviar

The social commentary the writers and director serve us is a cold affair. Like the sourdough they let their grievances ferment for so long that the actual critique falls flat. It might look and feel like it has substance, but withers if you sit with it for too long. The fresh pops of actual thought do freshen up the stale earthy taste, but not enough for a film with such highly set goals. 

Appetizer Candied Carrots/Sesame/Chili Crisp

The cinematography (Peter Deming), including the food photography, is stunning. Every shot is crisp and moody, with a clean finish. The island looks serene and idyllic, which prompts a visceral negative reaction, when the guests arrive to disturb the peace. The production design (Ethan Tobman) is heavily inspired by the understated, but also somehow overstated, designs of the Bauhaus movement, giving the film an overall chilly and, later, sinister look. The soundscape binds everything together, overlapping the frantic musical score (Colin Stetson) with the hushed concentration of the kitchen and the inane babbel from the guest room.

Salad Watermelon/Feta/Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar

I haven’t seen such a stellar ensemble cast in a long time. As the characters are not people, as much as stand-ins for “social problems” (according to the director at least) and overarching themes, they are perfectly arranged on the plate. Not one of them stands out or takes up more space than needed, as they all work in unison to reveal a meticulously thought out plot. The direction is precise and deliberate, showing perfection, but also utmost respect for the craft of acting and the art of filmmaking in general. Every component gets to shine, including camera, music and design, but not one thing outshines another.

Main Course Beef/American Cheese/Brioche

This juicy cheeseburger of a movie is extremely well done and fun to watch. The comedy is on point and the story unfolded so well that my eyes were glued to the screen, mouth agape and I heard myself whisper “Thank you, Chef!”, as the climactic ending came around. The cast of characters consists of stereotypes that are both relatable and unrelatable.

Unfortunately, the bitter aftertaste of the rather flat social commentary that permeates the movie comes to a head with a greasy anti-intellectual message and feels more like a film about the writer’s and director’s very myopic grievances than an actual desire for a (ful)filling change.

Dessert Humble Pie

I strongly urge everyone of my readers to watch the film for themselves. This review is, in the end, just a single opinion and although I’m happy to provide guidance for what to watch, I really believe that in this case everyone has to form an opinion of their own.