Tyler (Nicolas Hoult) and Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy) travel to a remote island with a number of other diners to eat a special meal prepared by celebrated Chef Slowik (Ralph Fiennes). He has also prepared some shocking surprises for his guests.
Mark Mylod’s film is a nicely biting satire on the cult of celebrity chefs, the pretentious food they serve up with foams and gels and such, as well as the rich idiots who pay for it. The only dish from the entire meal that looked appetising was a cheeseburger that Margot requests once she learns Slowik’s back story: and that is coming from someone who is allergic to cheese!
Also, the depiction of kitchen workers dutifully shouting “yes chef” at each of Slowik’s increasingly demented orders seems all too real. Fiennes is perfect is the role of the disillusioned chef and Taylor-Joy is terrific as the one diner who deserves to survive the evening.
There is one element of the screenplay, involving the complete acquiescence of the guests, that is highlighted towards the end of the movie that I did not entirely buy. Other than that, though, Seth Reiss’ and Will Tracy’s script pretty much hits its targets.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10