Ralph Fiennes’ Darkest Role Is in The Menu

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Certain Hollywood actors seem naturally suited to playing villains. They become so immersed in these wicked roles that audiences forget they’re watching an actor, completely believing in the character. A prime example is Ralph Fiennes. While widely recognized as the terrifying Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter films, Fiennes has consistently and subtly built a career portraying unlikeable characters.

Ralph Fiennes has played many chilling characters, from the serial killer in Red Dragon and the rigid hitman in In Bruges, to the terrifying Nazi commander in Schindler’s List. But his most disturbing performance might be his role as Chef Julian Slowik in the 2022 horror-comedy, .

Chef Slowik Is a Cult Leader, a Psychopath, and a Mass Murderer

Despite appearing to be a straightforward critique of class differences, the story’s true message is hidden within a much more disturbing plot. Chef Slowik runs a secluded, upscale restaurant and has invited a select group of guests to what he intends to be their last supper.

From the start, Slowik clearly behaves like a cult leader. He isolates his followers on an island, controlling their lives completely and demanding unquestioning obedience. They endure his increasingly strange and harmful behavior, even to the point of self-sacrifice, all for the sake of his beliefs. This controlling dynamic intensifies with his erratic actions later in the film.

Slowik is remarkably clever, expertly controlling his followers and manipulating his victims, revealing a meticulously planned and intelligent scheme. His choice of who to kill seems random and is based entirely on his own whims, sometimes for reasons as trivial as disliking a film the person appeared in.

He doesn’t answer to anyone and doesn’t play by any rules. He’s completely detached from the value of human life, and he accuses others of destroying his former love for cooking.

The Menu May Be Ralph Fiennes’ Most Underrated Film

Despite not getting the awards or attention many felt it deserved, The Menu was truly one of the best movies of 2022. Ralph Fiennes delivered a standout horror performance, alongside Anya Taylor-Joy. Sadly, like many horror films, neither actor received an Academy Award nomination. However, Fiennes did receive a Golden Globe nomination for his work in the film.

Okay, so The Menu definitely delivered – it was a hit with both critics and audiences! It scored a solid 88% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and a respectable 76% from viewers. However, it didn’t generate quite the buzz of some of the year’s bigger blockbusters, meaning fewer reviews were published overall. Considering this was only Mark Mylod’s second feature film, a lot of the conversation seemed to center around how the story would ultimately wrap up.

Despite a modest box office of $79 million, The Menu was financially successful, earning more than double its $30 million budget. However, it didn’t attract a huge audience.

The film The Menu gained wider attention in early 2025 when Netflix added it to its streaming service in late January. It quickly became the most-watched movie on Netflix and remained a popular choice throughout February, consistently ranking among the top ten. Ralph Fiennes’ performance, along with those of Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult, was a key factor in the film’s success.

Ralph Fiennes has been receiving a lot of praise lately, including an Academy Award nomination for his work in Conclave, and he was a standout in Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later. He’s continuing his collaboration with Boyle in a future project, and will also be reprising his role as President Snow in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, showing a younger version of the character.

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2025-12-31 23:06