In recent years, horror has evolved into a genre that can balance its slasher-like ultraviolence, ghost stories and more thematic tales. However, some movies in the genre that have gained more mainstream attention are high-end thrillers disguised as horror but actually focus on themes that create feelings of tension and thread. But more importantly, these films almost demand that audiences contemplate their messages long after the credits have rolled. A great example of this is The Menu.
The Menu follows a group of individuals invited to a special tasting dinner on a private island. World-famous chef Julian Slowvik prepared a multi-course dinner to convey his disdain for the industry in a violent and totally unorthodox way. The movie served as a horror satire, speaking on the culture and criticisms of the food industry and those that serve and dine. That said, the film's scary realism was inspired by an actual restaurant that fed the film's writers, Will Tracy and Seth Reiss.
The Real-Life Inspiration Behind The Menu
Food service has come in all shapes and sizes and has fed all classes of people since the concept of dining came to be. As a result, a degree of etiquette was born alongside it. But The Menu showed one of the more unique corners of the industry where guests will pay high prices for meals that tell a story and are designed to experience taste rather than simply consume food. Though it's a unique experience, there's also a sense of spectacle that The Menu exploited to the highest level to convey the good and bad of the industry.
According to the film's writers, they experienced a similar meal (minus the grim undertones) while at an island restaurant off the course of Norway. While the experience was undoubtedly memorable, it was also something that conveyed a degree of stress for the writers, as Tracy described the experience as relentless. He also stated, “You can’t leave. You’re being held hostage by a story which they’re telling for hours.” That sense of captivity would also permeate The Menu, as there was no way out, and those who tried to escape would meet painful consequences.
What Is The Menu About?
While The Menu set the stage for a unique dining experience, the absolute horror came from the hollow pain of the film's main antagonist, Slowvik. Over the years, he began to try and top himself and the critics who would keep him in business, and while his fame grew, his passion didn't. By the time of the film, Slowvik and his team devised a plan to gather people representing aspects of why the chef lost his passion. They went on to create a carefully designed menu of flavorful but lifeless food that would lead to an end where the employees and patrons would all die.
The tension of the film was that a chef had a strong hold on his guests and tried to show the importance of being thankful for their services. The Menu also ensured that those who served never lost the fire that pushed them to achieve their goals. It's a satire that uses dark humor to convey a real critique of the industry and creates a level of tension that may even have audiences contemplate how they conduct themselves in the food service industry. In the end, The Menu showed the many facets of the food industry and how a real-life experience could create a cautionary tale about appreciating those that serve others.
To see commentary on the food industry, The Menu is streaming now on HBO Max.