Sunday, 29 January 2023

THE MENU

This horror-comedy, written by Seth Reiss and Will Tracy and directed by Mark Mylod, (he of "Succession" fame), is destined for classic cult status. It's a highly original take on the old 'Hounds of Zaroff' riff where a group of people find themselves on an island with some kind of maniac who basically plans to kill them in one way or another. Usually 'the guests' are let loose and then hunted down; that happens here, too, but not before they are served up some very unusual cuisine in said maniac's very fancy restuarant.

You see Chef, as he's known, (a terrific Ralph Fiennes), is an elitist who is out to revenge himself on those people who have, in some way, done him wrong over the years and who now has gathered them all together for what he intends will be their last supper. However, one of the guests, (an equally terrific Anya Taylor-Joy), isn't meant to be there which kind of upsets his plans, if only a little.

Of course, it's thoroughly nasty and deeply cynical but it's also a delicious concoction, gorgeously photographed, designed and acted, (others in the first-rate cast include Nicholas Hoult, Janet McTeer, Reed Birney, Hong Chau, John Leguizamo and Judith Light), with its tongue lodged very much in its very cheeky cheek. If in the end there is less on the plate that you might have hoped just getting to the end of the meal proves to be a lot of fun.
 

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