The Menu

Available on: Disney+

Given that director Mark Mylod’s credits include Succession, the panache with which The Menu satirises the absurdity of extreme privilege and haute cuisine should come as no surprise. But this dark comedy packs a punch which belies the limited fanfare it garnered upon its original cinematic release.

Maybe it’s because me and my girlfriend are not long back from a trip to Paris which featured fine dining aplenty, but I found The Menu riotously entertaining. It really captures the odd subculture that has gradually infiltrated the culinary experience, in which diners worship the chef more than they do the food that is served to them.

This oddity is portrayed perfectly by the character of Tyler (Nicholas Hoult), a ‘foodie’ of the absolute worst kind whose decision to bring an unexpected guest, Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy), to an exclusive (and ludicrously expensive) dining experience hosted by Ralph Fiennes’ sinister chef sets in motion a highly entertaining and often disconcerting chain of events.

The Menu is a long way from being ground-breaking cinema, but it is a devilishly clever satire that features stellar performances from a pleasingly varied cast.