Mark Mylod (‘The Menu’): “We wanted to portray that crazy world where you pay a fortune for a meal”

It may be that if we mention the name of Mark Myloid, a quick reference when talking about feature films does not come to mind. However, it is behind a good handful of installments of series such as “Game of Thrones”, “Succession”, “Shameless”, “El entourage” or “The Affair”. Things change then. Furthermore, he has also directed the legendary “Ali G is loose”, as well as two comedies entitled “A stroke of luck” and “Tell me with how many”. What is clear is that Mylod has years and years of directing experience, although in this case it is television. His new project, “El menú”, comes out on Friday December 2nd and has a spectacular cast, led by Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, Ralph Fiennes, Hong Chau or John Leguizamo. At eCartelera we had the opportunity to talk to the director about his return, as well as the criticisms behind this fabulous thriller about haute cuisine and restaurants.

“First of all, I didn’t want to make another film until I was sure it was something I could really sink my teeth into”Mylod responded to the question of why I went eleven years without directing a film (then apologizing for the food analogy), “and something I felt deeply passionate about, that had something to say”. While his first three films were comedies, Mylod wanted to get closer to the thriller, a genre that he has explored more during his television products: “In these eleven years I’ve tried to choose bolder options that scared me at first. And ‘The menu’ was that”. Also, the director clarified what his three impressions of him were as soon as he read the script: “The first was ‘What a fun cinematic journey,’ the second “What a specific tone in this triangle of satire, comedy and thriller/horror” and the third “This scares me so much.” I guess that combination of elements convinced me to do it.”.

This crossing of genres is the key to the charm of ‘El menú’, which laughs with impunity even at its own characters. “Tone finds its little place with the right combination”Mylod says, “It was basically instinctive for almost everything. The key for me was those weeks of rehearsals I had with the actors where we got together in a room and talked. In those conversations we didn’t get up and start rehearsing the scene We talked about the themes I asked everyone to see “The Exterminating Angel” by Luis Buñuel, so we could talk about that journey that many of our table companions make, except the character of Anya, of that discovery of feeling guilty in a restaurant that is still a microcosm of society”.

kill the rich

From this microcosm that the kitchen represents, the director wanted to qualify his critique a lot. “I think if we just say ‘the rich are awful’…obviously it’s very easy and reductive”Mylod explained, “We wanted to portray that image of an absurd world where you pay a ridiculous amount for a meal.. A kind of totally forced economic strata. I think it’s very interesting, the whole world that I explore in the HBO drama I’m working on, ‘Succession.'”. Finally, he underlined the tonal line that the project ultimately followed: “It would be very easy to point out the ridiculous and enjoy watching the characters go through hell, but it’s more fun to do it while trying to understand them, understand their ego, understand their need to be seen, to feel special.”.

‘The Menu’ hits theaters next December 2nd.