Ralph Fiennes and Anya Taylor-Joy’s ‘The Menu’ Tops Netflix Charts

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2022’s movie titled “The Menu” has been ruling the Netflix rankings, taking the number one spot in the Top 10 Movies section on their streaming platform. Directed by Mark Mylod, “The Menu” offers a biting and humorous critique of society, with Anya Taylor-Joy portraying Margot, a working-class woman who unwittingly finds herself ensnared in the restaurant of an elite Chef (Ralph Fiennes) situated on a secluded island. Alongside her are several upper-class and extremely wealthy socialites, unaware of the shocking twists concealed within the night’s menu offerings.

In my opinion, this film, titled “The Menu,” is brimming with sharp wit and dry humor, showcasing captivating performances from actors such as Nicholas Hoult, Hong Chau, John Leguizamo, and more. Each of these talented individuals embodies a distinct aspect of high society, only to find themselves ensnared by a Chef who has lost his marbles.

What truly sets this movie apart is Ralph Fiennes’ portrayal of the deranged chef. His performance, marked by an exceptional level of self-restraint, adds an unsettling edge during tense scenes and injects humor in others, making it a riveting watch.

The movie previously available on Hulu (requiring a cable subscription add-on) has become more easily accessible to Netflix users, providing many with an opportunity to watch Mylod’s horror film infused with food themes. Apart from his direction of “The Menu”, Mylod is also widely recognized for his role as executive producer and director on the HBO series “Succession”.

Mark Mylod’s Latest Film Is Also His First Critically Successful One

Mark Mylod’s most recent movie directing was a romantic comedy called “What’s Your Number,” which came out 11 years prior to “The Menu.” This film, starring Anna Faris and Chris Evans, received a 23% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics labeling it as “predictable” and “standard.” Regrettably, this project wasn’t the director’s only flop. His other two films, “The Big White” and “Ali G India House,” also garnered poor reviews, with “The Big White” having a 30% rating and “Ali G India House” scoring 56%.

With an 88% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, The Menu is the director’s debut feature film that has garnered widespread acclaim, demonstrating his ability to craft compelling films when provided with suitable storylines and themes. The surge in its popularity on Netflix serves as a testament to this, and perhaps indicates that the director’s style leans more towards darker, morbid, and sociopolitical narratives rather than typical romantic comedies.

In addition to “The Menu,” Mark Mylod’s next projects include directing the second episode for season two of “The Last of Us” on HBO, as well as taking up the role of director and executive producer for an upcoming Harry Potter series on the same network. Given the scale and demand of this new project, it is likely that Mylod will be busy with it for quite some time, which means “The Menu” might serve as his final feature film for a while. As such, viewers are encouraged to catch it on Netflix before Mylod returns his attention primarily to HBO. Currently, “The Menu” offers a departure from Mylod’s usual television work and presents a chilling, small-scale horror with ample doses of humor that provides an unsettling commentary on societal issues like classism.

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2025-02-06 01:33