Menu Writers Want You To Love And Hate Ralph Fiennes Character [Exclusive]

Asked about the degree of empathy Reiss expresses for the film's central antagonist, Reiss has a lot to say about the nuances of the character:

"I mean, we think Chief Slowik is a genius. We love him and we also think he's full of shit. I think both of those things can exist and also, hopefully for the audience to do this is an interesting watch because I think in some ways they agree with his night and why he does what he does..."

In the opening acts of the multi-course meal, things quickly descend into chaos. Through his extravagant dishes, Chef Slowik reveals that he knows many special details about his guests and the lives they lead. He grills images on tortillas and hands them to guests, reminding them of the spooky ghosts they've tried to leave in their past. He refuses the bread service, remarking on the food's history as a peasant meal. Soon it escalates into something much more vicious and bloody. Recognizing a working spirit in Margot, he entrusts her with his dark endgame.

Fed up with the life he leads as a world-class culinary artist, Chef Slowik no longer finds pleasure in the act of cooking. Thus, he seeks revenge on the only people who can afford his food but who by nature will never enjoy it, the insatiable elite of society. It's not just a dinner party, it's a saw trap, and everyone who attends the meal will die. The guests, Chef Slowik himself, even his team of dedicated chefs.