The film serves up a twisty, macabre look at our obsession with fine dining and its perception of prestige
Though I don’t frequent the cinema often, when I saw the trailer for black comedy thriller The Menu, it was a film I knew I wanted to watch. While not much was revealed in the two-minute teaser, the star-studded cast and food-forward plot won me over.
And it truly did not disappoint. While the movie is undoubtedly an over-the-top criticism of the food culture that is propagated by the wealthy, there is much to unpack and relish in. Read on for this dining writer’s thoughts. Warning: Spoilers ahead!
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The movie is centred around 11 guests who travel by boat to Hawthorne, an exclusive restaurant situated on a private island. Each individual represents everything wrong with fine dining culture—guests are clearly more interested in the status of the restaurant and have little appreciation for the food.
Tyler, played by Nicholas Hoult, is a 21st-century foodie who takes photos of the dishes served even when instructed not to. To him, documenting the dinner and being seen at the establishment is more important than respecting the dining experience. While Tyler prides himself on his gastronomical knowledge, asking him to cook results in an absolute mess of a dish, showing the lack of practical knowledge present in many self-proclaimed experts.
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