Directed By:
Mark Mylod
Written By:
Seth Reiss, Will Tracy
Starring:
Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult
Genre:
Comedy, Horror, Thriller
Rated: R
All media used courtesy of Fox Searchlight
How far can ego drive a person? In a room full of the richest and most powerful, Chef Slowik rules with an iron wisk as he delicately and effortlessly guides his guests through a night of horror. Directed by Mark Mylod who is known for his work on Succession, Shameless, and Game of Thrones. This is is feature directorial debut and is not just a strong awards contender for this year but one of the best films of the year as well.
Margot is on a first date with Tyler, who seems oblivious to anything but salivating over Chef Slowik. The guests consist of washed up actors, businessmen, critics, all fawning over Chef, except for Margot. The dynamic with Margot and Slowik is captivating, and the chemistry between Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes can cut like a knife. Nicholas Hoult continues to provide his underrated and consistently good performances, and I personally hope he eventually lands a role to bring him more spotlight.
The films tone is cold, but beautiful. The food cinematography look incredible from a technical standpoint, the way it’s captured brings a soullessness in line with how Chef Slowik directs his kitchen. I loved Ralph Fiennes in this role and certainly see him nominated for best actor. I love how director Mark Mylod builds the tension and includes a dark humor throughout that makes all the horrific moments have a tinge of hilarity to them. The setting of the remote island with a sunset to line up with the energy of the room until it fades into night, turning to chaos, was great.
A fairly straightforward story done very well, I think this is going to be a hit for awhile and a sleeping giant come awards season. Check it out in theaters and bring a friend!
