A luxury dining experience turns deadly in the dark satire The Menu
In short: When a group of wealthy foodies travels to a remote island for an exclusive meal, they expect world-class cuisine. Instead, they encounter a celebrity chef with a lethal agenda. This 2022 thriller dissects the pretension of fine dining, proving that sometimes the most dangerous ingredient is an obsession with perfection.
The Menu follows a group of guests invited to Hawthorn, an elite restaurant on a private island run by the renowned chef Julian Slowik. The attendees include a washed-up movie star, wealthy regulars, and a food critic, all of whom have exploited food artisans or caused Slowik to lose his passion for his craft. The evening quickly devolves from a series of unsettling courses into a nightmarish ordeal where the guests are trapped, and the staff is committed to a final, fatal performance.
The film's premise was inspired by writer Will Tracy’s experience dining at an island restaurant in Norway. To ground the satire, the production team consulted real-world culinary experts, including chef Dominique Crenn, who recreated dishes from her own restaurant, Atelier Crenn. The film also mimics the visual style of the Netflix docuseries Chef's Table, with second unit director David Gelb brought on to ensure the aesthetic matched the high-end, serious tone of real-life fine dining documentaries.
Critics noted that the fictional Hawthorn satirizes several real-world institutions, referencing the remote locations of the Willows Inn, the Scandi severity of Noma, and the specific dessert styles found at Alinea. While the film received generally positive reviews for its black comedy and social commentary, it also serves as a critique of the industry's extremes. The story concludes with a simple cheeseburger—a return to the basics that briefly restores the chef's joy before the final, destructive dessert course.
Released in November 2022, the film became Searchlight Pictures' widest release to date, appearing in 3,211 theaters. It grossed $79.6 million worldwide and found continued success on streaming platforms. Despite its dark subject matter, the film resonated with audiences and critics alike, earning nominations at the Golden Globe and Saturn Awards for its performances and direction.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Menu (2022 film)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/entertainment-the-menu-2022-film.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Films · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics
