The Menu: 3 Shocking Fan Theories That Completely Flip the Script

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In Mark Mylod’s dark comedy/thriller titled The Menu, it is only one attendee who manages to survive Hawthorne before it ignites. Anya Taylor-Joy’s character, Margot, comes close to being grilled like a marshmallow alongside the staff and other guests, but she skillfully exploits Chef Slowik’s (Ralph Fiennes) past to outwit him. While sneaking into the chef’s residence, she finds an old photograph of him flipping burgers, which is the only image on his wall showcasing his accomplishments that genuinely brings a smile to his face.

In a manner that shows her understanding as a powerful tool, Margot interrupts service before the last course, asserting that nothing on the menu pleases her and she’s still craving more. She asks for a traditional, old-fashioned burger, which Slowik provides. After savoring one bite and praising its taste, she requests to take the burger away with her. Impressed by Margot’s insight into his message, he concurs, allowing Margot to depart from Hawthorne.

Afterward, Margot quickly makes her way to a boat situated close to the restaurant in an attempt to leave the island. The movie concludes as the boat runs out of fuel, and just before Hawthorne ignites, Margot takes a large bite of her burger. It appears that Margot managed to evade Chef Slowik’s stern warning against classism and the complex dynamics between consumer and creator, suggesting she may have survived the ordeal.

Although some viewers of the film argue that Margot might not have survived in the end, others speculate she perished soon after the restaurant went up in flames. These imaginative hypotheses could potentially redefine the ending of The Menu, so we’re examining them for you.

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Slowik Poisoned Margot’s Cheeseburger

Upon arriving at the island where Hawthorne stands, Elsa (played by Hong Chau), one of Slowik’s key assistants, leads the visitors on a tour of the smokehouse. She explains that they let their meat age for around five and a half months before it’s served. One guest playfully wonders what would happen if the meat was served a day later. Elsa responds in a dull tone; “Well, I imagine the bacteria would enter the diner’s bloodstream and spread to their spinal cord, causing them to become incapacitated and eventually pass away.” Although some guests appear slightly concerned, they quickly move on when Elsa guides them further.

Death by Cow Meat

In the film, a humorous scene sets up its darkly comedic tone and hints that the Hawthorne staff might not be entirely reliable. When Slowik discovers that Margot is like him, a service provider, he doesn’t extend her protection, but rather suggests she perish with the staff instead of the affluent guests. His initial disdain for her softens after this revelation, but it doesn’t alter his intentions for the night.

Several spectators have speculated that Slowik may have utilized meat aged beyond 152 days in the notorious cheeseburger he prepared for Margot. If this is true, then he would have intentionally served her spoiled meat, potentially condemning her to a lonely death instead of allowing her to spend her final moments among the restaurant’s patrons. Margot’s presence stirred memories in Slowik of the authentic affection he once held for basic culinary arts, which had been overshadowed by the red tape of high-end dining. This nostalgia may have warranted a different outcome for Margot compared to other diners, but it might not have been enough to save her from her fate, according to this hypothesis.

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2
Margot Was Stranded at Sea

Following her cunning escape from the perilous campfire at Hawthorne, Margot makes an effort to sail away in a boat. As soon as she manages to ignite the engine and direct it away from the eatery, it ceases functioning, leaving Margot adrift at sea under the cover of darkness alone. With no sign of rescue on the horizon and realizing that she won’t be able to restart the vessel, she eventually consumes the cheeseburger. As the restaurant at Hawthorne is engulfed in flames, Margot takes a defiant action by using the menu from the establishment to clean her mouth, symbolically asserting her displeasure towards Slowik and his staff.

Left for Dead on the Water

At the movie’s close, Margot gazes at the Hawthorne fire burning in the darkness from her solitary motorboat. Some viewers have wondered if Margot didn’t manage to reach the shore after this point. Given that the Hawthorne burned down during the night and being on a private island, it’s improbable someone would be there to monitor or pass by.

The radio that Margot discovered in Slowik’s residence alerted a Coast Guard officer who appeared to be assisting at the restaurant, but it turned out he was actually an undercover kitchen worker. This leads us to suspect that Slowik might have tampered with the nearby radio frequencies. If it’s true that Margot was deserted without anyone knowing about what happened, there’s a chance she could have been stranded and met with a tragic end on the boat. However, this scenario seems least probable among the theories we’ve considered.

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1
Slowik Helped Margot Escape

In the movie, it becomes clear from the start that Slowik harbors a strong contempt towards the high-end dining world, particularly the power imbalance between patrons and providers. During his conversation with Margot in the restroom, he is trying to figure out if she fits among the elite, well-heeled diners for the evening. Later, in his office, he bluntly tells her that she belongs as part of the staff serving them, rather than being one of the selfish guests. It’s only later on that we learn that Margot is an escort hired by Tyler to accompany him to Hawthorne. Eventually, Tyler confesses that he was aware everyone would perish at Hawthorne, but still chose to bring Margot along since the establishment doesn’t take reservations for single patrons.

Substitutions at Hawthorne for the Working Class

Following Tyler’s public embarrassment in front of the staff and visitors, Slowik orders Margot to retrieve a barrel from the smokehouse. On her exit from the kitchen, Margot encounters Tyler suspended from the ceiling. Instead of going directly to the smokehouse, Margot stealthily makes her way into Slowik’s home, a place where no one should be. Elsa tags along behind her. The duo engages in a physical fight, ending with Margot fatally wounding Elsa. This confrontation leads Margot to uncover a gallery wall within the chef’s residence showcasing his achievements. She discovers a picture of Slowik gleefully flipping a burger there, and she also locates the radio that she uses to request assistance.

Despite the call for help being a hoax, Margot managed to discover crucial information in Slowik’s residence. The picture showing him working as a line cook at a burger joint was the only instance where Margot or viewers witnessed genuine joy on Slowik’s face. This discovery led Margot to conclude that his passion for cooking has been overshadowed by the rigid conventions of fine dining, where people are more concerned with aesthetic experiences than delicious food.

As a movie critic, I must confess that I found myself pondering whether Slowik intentionally lured Margot to his house, giving her the opportunity to devise an escape plan, thereby challenging the guests who dined at the restaurant to think outside the box and consider their own potential for survival. Interestingly, Slowik accused Elsa of neglecting to fetch the barrel from the smokehouse, but during a private conversation in the chef’s kitchen, Elsa asserted that she was never asked for it by Slowik. This intriguing detail might suggest that Slowik was subtly assisting Margot in her escape, as she was unlike the other patrons at Hawthorne, who seemed content to abide by the rules without question. Furthermore, although Slowik insisted there were no substitutions on his menu, it is possible he made a rare exception in Margot’s case – offering her an unconventional “dish” when he realized she was unlike the rest.

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2025-03-30 00:33