On March 31, Searchlight Pictures’ underrated black comedy The Menu will be leaving Netflix along with several other films. But this is the one you should catch before the end of the month, in part because it’s probably going to stay with you for a while. Director Mark Mylod and screenwriters Seth Reiss and Will Tracy crafted a tale that has some horror elements, but it’s more funny than scary.
The casting for the film is also impeccable, with Ralph Fiennes and Anya Taylor-Joy in the lead roles, with Nicholas Hoult, Hong Chau, Janet McTeer, Judith Light, and John Leguizamo rounding out the supporting cast. The story follows Taylor-Joy’s Margot Mills on the trip of a lifetime to Hawthorne, one of the world’s most exclusive restaurants on a remote island. But once Margot and her date arrive, she finds out that they may never be able to leave with their lives. And they aren’t the only ones facing a dire fate.
But if you’re looking for a more complete explanation about why The Menu is the one Netflix movie you can’t miss in March, then keep reading.
Ralph Fiennes Is at His Wicked Best
Ralph Fiennes is a terrific villain in The Menu, in part because his character believes that he’s justified in his actions. In his own way, Chef Julian Slowik can be just as intimidating as Fiennes’ role as Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter films. However, Slowik has more nuance, even though he’s also out of his mind.
Ralph Fiennes Thinks Cillian Murphy Playing Voldemort Would Be ‘Excellent’
Without giving too much away, the entire evening was orchestrated by Slowik and his followers, who carefully selected their guests. They’re going to serve up more than a full-course meal for their patrons, and in Slowik’s mind, they’re all getting what they deserve.
More importantly, Slowik doesn’t feel he’s immune from retribution. He’s one of the rare antagonists who is fully aware that what he has planned is brutal, and he’s literally willing to suffer the same fate for his art. He’s not just a parody of chef Gordon Ramsay. Instead, Slowik resembles a cult leader, and everyone follows his lead.
Anya Taylor-Joy Gives a Great Performance
It’s a plot point in the movie that Taylor-Joy’s Margot doesn’t belong with the rest of the patrons, and yet her presence is absolutely essential to the movie. She’s the only one that the audience truly has any sympathy for, and as Slowik routinely demonstrates, she’s also the only one there who isn’t guilty of a crime, either against the law or of the heart.
Before the insanity begins, Margot shines because she isn’t intimidated by Slowik and she’s more than willing to call him out on the ridiculous things he does to his dishes. Margot won’t even dignify those courses by describing them as appetizers or even food.
Is Anya Taylor-Joy in Her Rocker Era? Here’s Proof
Unlike Taylor-Joy’s leading character in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Margot has to use her mind and her wit as her weapons as she tries to make her way through the night.
The Ending Is Brutal and Oh So Satisfying
The last 30 minutes are probably the most satisfying part of the movie. In real life, the rich and powerful rarely get justice for the things they’ve done or the people they’ve hurt. But in The Menu, the 1 percent are finally getting what’s coming to them.
Not all of the characters necessarily deserve their fates, but there is a certain cathartic sensation when characters who have all of the money in the world can’t use it to barter for their lives. Slowik and his followers are far beyond bargaining when this film begins, and it’s going to be a bloody good time in Hawthorn for elevated horror and dark comedy fans alike.
Watch The Menu on Netflix.
