Do chefs wield too much power in this world? The power over life and death in fact? In The Menu, Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes), is a celebrity chef who is menacing from the get go.
The story follows Tyler (Nicholas Hoult) and his companion Margot Mills (Anya Taylor-Joy) as they travel with a group by boat to Hawthorne, an exclusive restaurant owned and operated by chef Slowik, located on a private island. There they are given a tour of the island by the restaurant maitre d’, Elsa (Hong Chau).
The courses and Slowik’s accompanying monologues gradually become more disquieting and violent and things get really creepy as Slowik declares all the guests were selected because they either contributed to his losing his passion for his craft or because they make a living off exploiting the work of artisans like him, then announces that the night will end with everyone dead.
Will this master of chefs end it all for his guests? This film might just make you rethink your eatery exclusivity.
The Menu is screening at Ballina Fair Cinemas and The Palace at Byron Bay this week.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
