THE MENU
Excessive, expertly made, and ultimately unappetizing.
Should You Watch It?
Here is the unusual case: The Menu is a four-star film that still earns a SKIP IT verdict. Its performances are fantastic, and its music, punchy editing, and cinematography work together with impressive technical precision. The suspense builds effectively, with payoffs that can be either comical or frightening.
But the movie’s tasteful presentation cannot overcome its excessive violence and foul language. The source review counts at least 78 obscenities, including more than 50 “f” words, along with several shocking and bloody acts of violence. Its worldview is also strongly pagan, while the characters’ motives, values, and desires offer little moral substance.
If you are looking for stylish horror, you may recognize the craft. If you are choosing what to watch with your family or seeking entertainment that feeds your spirit, skip this one.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESTyler and Margot travel to an isolated island for an exclusive meal at a celebrated restaurant. Tyler is thrilled to meet Chef Slowik, a renowned culinary artist whose work he has followed for years.
The restaurant’s guests are seated in a beautiful, modern dining room with an open view of the kitchen. But the chef’s artistic and theatrical presentation soon takes an unsettling turn. As Margot grows increasingly uncomfortable, the diners begin to wonder whether the night’s shocking events are performance, reality, or both.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a highly accomplished film, even though its content makes it a poor recommendation. The Menu offers fantastic performances, particularly from its lead actors. Its music blends effectively with punchy editing and cinematography, while the filmmaking mirrors the technical proficiency of the food preparation onscreen.
That combination creates a captivating story and a strong buildup of suspense. The movie also offers satisfying payoffs, whether comical or scary. Its weakness is not craft but substance: the review finds little morality in the characters’ motives, values, or desires. The result is expertly made, but not worth the cost to your conscience.
The Worldview
The Menu presents a strong pagan worldview. It includes some moral commentary on how culture can value things that are actually empty and cannot satisfy, along with two minor references to God. The film explores obsession and emptiness through the setting of modern cuisine, and one character states, “Nobody is perfect.”
That commentary identifies a real human problem, but the film offers little moral substance in the motives, values, or desires of its characters. Its worldview does not provide a biblical answer to the emptiness it observes. Scripture warns, “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). The film recognizes that some cultural desires cannot satisfy, but it does not lead viewers toward God as the source of lasting meaning.
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong pagan worldview with some moral commentary on how culture often values that which is actually empty and can’t satisfy, plus two minor references to God
Foul Language
At least 78 obscenities (including more than 50 “f” words), six Jesus profanities, one GD profanity, six light profanities, and a vulgar phrase
Violence
Several violent, shocking scenes include a man commits suicide as part of his “dish” by shooting himself in the head, another man hangs himself off-screen, a woman is stabbed in the neck with a kitchen knife in a very bloody scene, a group of people are burned alive, a man’s finger is cut off with a kitchen knife, slapping, hitting, and other stabbings
Sex
No depicted or implied sex scenes, but there are references to characters wanting to have sex, it’s revealed that the lead female character is a sex-worker, and a married man is outed as having had an affair
Nudity
No nudity
Alcohol Use
Wine is served throughout the movie, plus a woman is called out for being drunk several times, and the Chef mentions that his father was an alcoholic
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Lead male character is often unkind toward lead female character.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film observes that people can value things that are empty and cannot satisfy. What desires compete for first place in your life, and what does Jesus say about storing up treasure?
Matthew 6:19–21The movie’s characters pursue status, pleasure, and artistic achievement. Why can these things fail to provide lasting meaning?
Ecclesiastes 1:2 · Matthew 16:26The story presents obsession as destructive. What does Scripture teach about self-control and the desires that rule us?
Galatians 5:22–23 · Titus 2:11–12The film includes references to God but embraces a pagan worldview. Why does Scripture say that God alone deserves worship?
Exodus 20:3–6 · Acts 17:24–25The Final Word
The Menu is stylish, suspenseful, and superbly performed. But its excessive violence, foul language, and strong pagan worldview make it a poor choice despite its four-star craft. For your family or your conscience, SKIP IT. Consider these instead.
