When I first saw the trailer to The Menu, my expectations were of a traditional slasher movie; could have cool characters and a cool plot, but overall will just be the same redundant murder film that’s been done a thousand times before.

So when I walked away after 107 minutes, I was left in utter disbelief as to how incredibly well done and unique the movie was. 

For starters, my previous thoughts going into the movie could not be farther from the truth. While this film does still contain that same eerie vibe that other slasher films contain, the similarities end entirely there. The Menu isn’t a comedic and cheesy slasher film about a chef killing rich diners, but instead is a smartly-done critique on the world of elegant dining and critics as a whole. 

If Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes’ bold performances weren’t enough to engross the audience into this film, then the heavily thematic nature of it is sure to fully grasp viewers and serve them a delectable taste of freshness. 

The movie follows a group of the rich and powerful; composed of top executives, high-end food critics, actors, directors, etc. However with one notable exception; Margot, who is the only non-rich person and is instead the impromptu date of one of the food critics. The group attends a restaurant, famous for being one of the most expensive and top-notch locations in the world; located on its own private island. However as the group begins to dine, they slowing begin to fall prey to Head Chef Slowik’s sickening plan, with each course bringing a slew of criticisms and bloodshed. 

It creates an instantly engaging dynamic, especially once the murders begin. While the pacing can, at a few points become slow, the overall payoffs make the build up much more tolerable. And once the themes of class-divide and the value of criticism are mixed into the pot, the result is a deliciously deadly serving of quality storytelling. 

Final score: 9.3/10