“The Menu”: Anya Taylor-Joy in a bloody and somewhat cloying satire on ‘haute cuisine’ | REVIEW

Witnesses of the so-called ‘Gastronomic Boom’, we have all been tempted at some time or another to call and make a reservation at a luxurious restaurant that promises an original, unique and unforgettable experience. The first obstacle, beyond the possible high cost, could well be the impossibility of finding available slots for a nearby day. And it is that, surely, there are many who hope to enjoy the art of a chef praised in the newspapers or winner of various awards.

But even being too curious can be bad. An example to understand this could well be Tyler (Nicholas Hoult), a handsome young man -apparently without financial problems- who followed all the required process to reserve a space in the restaurant of the famous chef Slowik (Ralph Fiennes), located in paradise ( and secret) Hawthorn Island.

This last paragraph is the fundamental basis of “The menu”, the Mark Mylod film that stars not only Hoult and Fiennes, but mainly the young and talented Anya Taylor-Joy. She plays Margot, a lady-in-waiting that Tyler invited ‘at the last minute’ because her partner failed him, and booking was only possible in pairs.

Although this last fact is not minor, it would be time to talk a little more about the universe of “The menu”. Tyler and Margot are accompanied by a dozen people who didn’t think twice about paying $1,250 for their ‘fork’ reservation. From prestigious gastronomic critics (Lilian Bloom/Janet McTeer) to businessmen with shady deals (Soren/Arturo Castro), to Hollywood actors who have come a little less (John Leguizamo).

Although everyone is ready for an unforgettable culinary gala, it is Tyler who shows such enthusiasm that he does not seem willing to let anything stop him from being happy. That’s why he slaps Margot when she wants to touch an aperitif before he can take a picture of her to, presumably, share it on her social media. This, however, will be the first of a long list of actions that the character played by Hoult will carry out during his participation in the film.

If something has very definite “The menu” are its stages. After the presentation of the millionaire diners and a mini tour of the island, chef Slowik makes his appearance. From here the tape quietly changes air. The wonder of seeing the prestigious chef up close disappears when he begins to reveal that we are not dealing with just any expensive dinner, but with an absolutely produced ‘act’. No one, however, is capable of imagining what is coming.

At this point in the film it will be impossible not to remember “El oso”, one of the last great television productions that has gastronomy as its pillar. In the FX series, a chef named Carmen Berzatto tries to bring order to the restaurant that her deceased brother bequeathed to him. But it’s not just any restaurant, it’s a sandwich shop located in hectic (and historic) Chicago. With a special genius, the protagonist will impose his professional style in search of order and clarity in daily work. Thus, for all of us who are completely unaware of the world of gastronomy, terms such as “chef” (used in the series to equalize everyone in a restaurant) or “French guard” will gradually become familiar to us.

In “The menu” all these resources are stretched to the extreme. Going back to the analysis of Mylod’s film, several of the characters will be commenting -as if they were the greatest experts- each of the dishes that are offered to them. The first on the list, as we already said, is Tyler. And, paradoxically, the last one is Margot, an excellent representative of all those who do not celebrate four-fork restaurants for the mere fact of holding said certification, but simply prefer to eat a good hamburger for 9.90 ‘with all the creams’.

But for those who don’t find a parody of today’s haute cuisine interesting, “The menu” also offers whiplashes of suspense that could make anyone’s hair stand on end. In this work, Ralph Fiennes shines, generating panic by revealing to each of his diners that they will not get out of this experience alive. The British actor’s performance is compelling and forceful in equal measure. His gestures, his expressions, but above all his silences make up -at times- the perfect thriller.

In the midst of all this paraphernalia of cooks shouting “yes, chef” under pressure from their boss versus diners terrified of what could happen to them in the next few hours, “The menu” He had the ability to build a kind of bubble in which Margot and Taylor function as an ideal duo (but not as a couple). The first, belittling the pomp of each ‘haute cuisine’ dish that is placed in front of it, and the second, exalting it to the point of not being able to. The opposite of both personalities, obviously, will unleash critical moments and even touches of violence.

But this last factor is not typical of Taylor and Margot. The act of eating the ‘menu’ of the mysterious and sinister chef Slowik includes stabbings, several escape attempts, allegations of sexual harassment and even suicides. In short, all the dark component that one can imagine has been added to the ‘pot’ that cooked an at times unclassifiable film like this.

Some specialized film and television portals have sought to ‘twin’ this film with “The White Lotus”, the award-winning HBO series created by Mike White and which is heading into its third season. The reason? The satire of the consumerist society, but, above all, the punishment that falls permanently on wealthy people who believe they are capable of buying everything with their credit cards. Although the comparison between series and film seems understandable to us, we believe that it could also be somewhat forced.

In itself, and although it lasts much less, “The Menu” is not just a film that seeks to show a sharp questioning of the so-called upper classes. This is just one element among several others (for some, perhaps, many) that end up making this film –following the culinary spirit of what we have on screen- a dish full of colours, although this does not necessarily ensure a pleasant sensation. on our palate.

THE MENU/ STAR PLUS

director: Mark Mylod

Synopsis: Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy) and Tyler (Nicholas Hoult), a young couple, travel to a remote and luxurious island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where a mysterious chef (Ralph Fiennes) prepares an expensive and opulent menu for them.

However, it soon becomes clear that diners are in for some shocking surprises. Consumerism is taken to hilarious and terrifying ground in this comedy-thriller.

Duration: 107 minutes.