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Parents' Guide to

The Menu

By Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Dark horror-comedy is bloody, funny, and tasty.

Movie R 2022 106 minutes
The Menu Movie: Poster

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 15+

Based on 11 parent reviews

Paul Castro
Paul Castro Parent of 15 and 17-year-old
November 20, 2022
age 17+

Graphic suicide scene

Just a warning to families: there is a suicide scene that comes without warning and is quite horrifying. Anyone who has a gun suicide in their past will want to be forewarned.
Charlie H.
Charlie H. Adult
November 27, 2022
age 14+

It serves a rich, flavorful storyline with good twists and turns

Return to site The Menu A meal with a twist . . . November 27, 2022 4/5 For the most part, I was really into the movie, but it took a bit for me to actually get fully immmersed into the movie! I wanted to see this opening weeked when it came out, but I couldn't and orginally I didn't have plans to actually see this in theaters, but plans changed to the point that I actually got to see this movie! And in the end, it was worth seeing even though this movie did have its flaws. To begin with, I love my food, and I just don't bloody understand the nature of the art of food and never will. I just want to eat to my food, and enjoy it without needing to know the nuances and references of it and how long it took like this movie. That was a hindrance in this movie . . . all the nuances of food and how they kept on saying food was an art. For me, I could really care less because in my mind: food is food, and no matter how rich or references it has I don't care, just let my food in peace. So when this movie got all into the rich food it didn't make me appreciate food movie, in fact it only made me want to eat those rich food (in peace of coure), but kind of put a damper in the movie! Another thing that made this movie drag down a bit was the pacing . . . all of the movie had this slow pacing that eventually built up, and if you know: I am not into slow pacing films unless you really can get my interest or it makes sense. I feel like the slow pacing was alright for this film, but I feel like it only benfited for the food part, but it also helped because it built up the tenson to the final moment that delivered such a riveting ending. Besides the rich food naunce/reference and the slow pacing, I thought that this film delivered such a gourmet meal, that I'm more than willing to go back for a second "eating" into this film! The best part about this film was the sinster twist and turns of this film. Those came so unexpected that one suicide in the film shocked me beyond belief. Just like those people in the movie saw it and shocked them, it shocked me a lot. That was then the tone of the movie changed around to something more darker and something more sinster than just eating food. I also really love how this movie (like a lot of other movies) delivered people's dark secrets, and also I am still wondering what was the chief's motive for the whole thing! I never felt that this movie was horror, but more of a sinster, thrilling movie that served up such rich shocking surprises that I am turly impressed on how much that this film delivered such an amazing plot even though the food nuances and the slow plot dragged it down a bit. The most notable role in this was Ralph Fiennes and Anya-Taylor Joy. I've known Ralph for playing in the Harry Potter series as Voldermort and in the 2021 movie The King's Man, but it was because of Anya-Taylor Joy that brought me to this movie in the first place! Anya-Taylor is one of my favorite female roles ever since I saw her debut role in the Netflix Tv Show, The Queen Gambit. And ever since that, I love whenever Anya-Taylor is on screen (except that one exception when she was in Amsterdam). This movie starts being a light movie all about food, but things turn around when it become more violent and twisting with some shocking surprises up its sleeve. The ending was satisfying, and the main characters were amazing (Nicholas Hoult was one of the most unmeorable acting in the film, he didn't make any impression on me whatsoever) to watch, and the side characters also added a nice flavor taste to it all. The "Marshmallow Dessert" death was amazing, but when I went into that movie I didn't know what would actually happen! The Menu is one of the best horror movies released this year (besides Smile), and it delivers enough surprises and has an interesting enough plot that this film does not get muddled down by all the food nuances/references and the slow plot. In the end, it was worth seeing because everyone invovled in it delivered such a rich gourmet movie that I am more than willing to go back for another dip into it!
See all 11 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In THE MENU, Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy) and Tyler (Nicholas Hoult) prepare for an evening out at the exclusive Hawthorne facility, where a meal costs $1,250 per person. Tyler is a passionate foodie and a huge fan of Chef Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes), who runs the restaurant. Only 12 customers will be dining tonight, and the night's menu is designed to tell a specific story. Things start getting strange when the staff discover that Margot isn't on the reservation list (she's taking the place of Tyler's ex-girlfriend) -- and stranger still when the guests are given a bread plate with no bread. But when a sous chef presents his creation as one of the courses and then shoots himself in the head, the guests truly begin to wonder whether it's all part of the show ... or if something more sinister is cooking.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (11 ):
Kids say (19 ):

It's complete nonsense, but this very dark horror-comedy strikes just the right notes of stone-cold humor and red-hot malevolence, making for a delectable dish that satisfies all the way down. In The Menu, the guests, as Chef Julian points out directly, never make much of an attempt to save themselves. And even though viewers might find this frustrating, there's truth in their combination of sheer disbelief and sense of decorum. The movie's wicked genius lies not only in its execution but also in its ultimate themes. As the food keeps coming and small things are revealed, some of the guests continue to enjoy the show and eat; it's a fascinating psychological and social experiment. Where does perception end and reality begin?

And even though the ultimate plan in The Menu is a whopper of a doozy, the theme behind it is a thoughtful exploration of art, artists, and their complex relationship with consumers. The Menu balances gut-level humor and horror with higher-minded themes, all with a twinkle in its eye and a gleam of its blade. Fiennes plays the chef with a clever restraint and even a bit of fatigue (he recalls, ever so slightly, his take on Voldemort), forgoing the hints of madness that many other actors usually choose for villain roles. And Taylor-Joy projects strength and independence, indignant when her date tries to shush her by snapping his fingers ("Did you just snap at me?"). Director Mark Mylod, a small-screen veteran from Severance and Game of Thrones, keeps the small-scale, one-location movie feeling fluid and kinetic. Overall, it's a palate-pleaser.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about The Menu's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?

  • Would you consider this a horror movie? Why, or why not? Is it scary? If not, what makes it horrific?

  • Have you ever made something for someone who didn't appreciate it? How did that feel? How does art create communication between a creator and a consumer?

  • How does the movie depict drinking and smoking? Are they glamorized? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?

  • Does Chef Julian take responsibility for his own perceived failings? Does he blame others? What's the difference?

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