The Menu, directed by Mark Mylod, is a hilariously twisted horror comedy that follows Margot Mills and her date, Tyler, on their trip to Hawthorne, a highly regarded restaurant owned by none other than renowned chef Julian Slowik. What begins as a relatively ordinary day out, however, quickly turns into a terrifying situation in which the guests must fight for their lives.
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Asa horror comedy, much of what makesThe Menuso captivating is how it never takes itself too seriously. The movie is chock-full of ridiculous themes, hilarious messages, and unlikely scenarios, and though they don’t always make sense, they don’t really need to. There are a lot of things inThe Menuthat don’t make sense, but not understanding certain aspects of the movie can often make it more enjoyable.
5Slowik’s Reasons
Julian Slowik,played by Ralph Fiennes, is a ridiculously compelling villain, in that the reasons behind his actions can be quite difficult to understand. ThroughoutThe Menu, it becomes clear that each of his guests has wronged him at some point in their lives. The whole purpose of inviting them to this remote island is to teach them a lesson, but not all guests are as deserving of punishment as others.
Some guests have genuinely affected Slowik’s life and career, but to punish a movie star for simply appearing in a film Slowik didn’t like is a little extreme. George, played by John Leguizamo, is doomed to share the fate of his fellow guests, only because of his role inCalling Doctor Sunshine. Slowik watched this movie on his first day off in months, and when he didn’t find it to his liking, he immediately branded the movie’s lead actor as a problem. It can be hard to understand Slowik’s reasoning for the choices he makes, but that’s what makes him sucha believable villain.
4Tyler’s Love For Julian Slowik
From the movie’s opening, Tyler,played by Nicholas Hoult, is made out to be a bit of a food snob. Whenever he begins talking about Slowik’s cuisine, it becomes hard for the viewer to relate to him, as the way he speaks can often feel a little condescending. It can be difficult to tolerate him for overly long periods, but it’s hard to deny his love for Slowik and everything he creates.
Tyler is so passionate that he decided to attend Slowik’s night of fine dining all while knowing what fate had in store for him. Slowik’s main reason for holding this event is to punish all those who suck the joy out of cooking, and though this should be an immediate red flag, Tyler loves Slowik too much to pass up the chance to meet him. Tyler is willing to risk his life just to be in Slowik’s presence, but it’s never explicitly stated why he was willing to do so. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, however, as it serves to further emphasize how self-absorbed Tyler can be.
3The Guests Accept Their Fate
Though it takes the guests a while to realize their lives are on the line, none of them are willing to fight to survive. To be fair, escaping the island doesn’t really seem possible due to the security measures Slowik has set in place, but even so, the guests refuse to even attempt to fight back.
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It makes sense why the guests don’t want to risk leaving, as they are very much surrounded by armed guards, but it’s still quite unusual that none of them try. Perhaps it takes them too long to realize how much danger they are in, and maybe it’s too late by the time they do. It’s even harder to understand when Slowik suggests they could have all escaped if they really tried. Sadly, none of them are willing to fight for their freedom, which turns out to be their downfall.
2Elsa’s Attack
Upon infiltrating Chef Slowik’s home, Margot,played by Anya Taylor-Joy, is given a brief moment to investigate the house of the man who plans to murder her. Sadly, before her search for answers can truly begin, she is interrupted by Elsa, who has grown tired of Margot’s interference. She believes Margot is hoping to replace her, and even though she has only a few hours left to live, she refuses to let her fears become a reality.
Elsa is completely devoted to Slowik, so devoted in fact, that she iswilling to murder Margotif it means she can retain her position by his side. Sadly, her attempt to kill Margot fails, and Margot is able to return to the restaurant with the barrel she was sent to acquire. It’s a pretty confusing end for such a well-written character, but her final words make her death feel even stranger.
1Elsa’s Final Words
Before Margot sinks her knife into Elsa’s neck, Elsa states that Slowik never told her he required a barrel for dessert, which is odd considering Slowik made a point to mock Elsa for failing to retrieve it for him earlier. This is arguably the most confusing part ofThe Menuas it feels impossible to know what Slowik’s reasoning for berating Elsa was.
Perhaps Slowik chose to rile Elsa up in the hope that she could deal with Margot herself. This would explain why Margot is left to her own devices when she returns to the restaurant, but it is still difficult to know for sure. It’s also possible that Slowik was hoping to test Elsa’s devotion, and also to discover if she was loyal to him, or loyal to the art of cooking. Sadly, this reason behind Slowik’s lie will likely never be revealed, which in turn serves to paint him as an evenmore mysterious figure.
The Menuis now available to stream on Disney+ and HBO Max.
