The Menu: A Full Course Meal Of Horror

The Menu, starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes, is an entertaining twist on a dinner party.

Intro

2022 started off with some spectacular films, including The Batman and Top Gun: Maverick but midway, the movies began to get more stale and mediocre. With Wakanda Forever just being released and meeting somewhat decent expectations, a comeback for cinema to end this year on a high note is beginning. The Menu, directed by Mark Mylod, stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes in an entertaining, suspenseful thriller flick.

Executed Plot

The film follows Margot (played by Anya Taylor-Joy), who, along with a couple of other wealthy guests, attends a tasting on a remote island by a renowned chef. As the night progresses, they slowly realize that things aren’t all as they seem, and pandemonium ensues. People start to die, panic starts to brew, and the guests are left to fend for themselves. The plot is relatively standard, with some twists and turns; however, the execution of the storyline is flawless. Mark Mylod can bring the story to life without overdoing any aspect of the film. The humor is perfectly timed, the suspenseful atmosphere captivates the film's mood, and the acting is exceptional.

Powerful Performances

The entire cast, and I mean the whole form, delivers excellent, humorous, powerful performances. But it’s Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes that downright steal the show. Anya, who plays Margot, can showcase the swag and attitude that surrounds her character but switch to an emotional side on a dime. Anya has been up and coming, and it now seems like she is one of the most sought-after actresses in the industry. We, indeed, are witnessing the beginning of a potentially long-reigning career. As for Ralph Fiennes, how deeply he embodies his character, a severely psychopathic head chef, is borderline worrying. He immerses himself entirely, leaving no character breaks or moments where you can distinguish himself from his role.

Closing Critiques

Overall, the film, in a word, is entertaining. The building suspense, the perfectly timed humor, the powerful performances, the distinct lack of cringe, everything about this movie sets it above its recent peers in the industry. Granted, the bar has been set extremely low with the likes of "Halloween Ends," "Amsterdam," "Ticket to Paradise," "Black Adam," and more subpar to mediocre films. However, Wakanda Forever has halted the streak of mediocre movies and turned the tide towards a more upward trajectory. The Menu appears to have continued that upward trajectory as we head into the year's final stretch, with a highly anticipated film like Knives Out 2 on the horizon and finishing with the most awaited blockbuster in cinematic history, Avatar 2.

Raving Rating: 7.2