Chef Julian Slowik is the main antagonist of the 2022 psychological thriller/dark-comedy horror film The Menu. He was portrayed by Ralph Fiennes, who was also Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter movies.
Biography[]
Prior to the events of the film, Slowik had an alcoholic father who abused him and his mother Linda. One Tuesday night his father came home especially drunk and attempted to strangle his mother with a phone cord. To stop him, Julian stabbed him in the leg with a pair of scissors, later regretting that he did not go for his neck. Sometime later, Slowik found work at a burger joint, thus discovering the joy he had for cooking, and eventually married and had a child. It is unclear what happened to his spouse and child; either they died, or Julian divorced her and she took custody of their child. In any case, Julian would go on to become a famous chef with his own restaurant, "Hawthorne", located on a private island, but he would become miserable over how his customers abused artisans such as himself by not appreciating his food. After he sexually harasses his sous-chef Katherine, she comes up with the plan to kill everyone along with him. Around that time, he built himself a cult of loyal chefs who would enact his will, with his most devoted one being Elsa.
Tyler brings his escort Margot to Hawthorne despite knowing the true purpose behind the arrangement. Despite that, Julian takes an interest in Margot due to the arrangement, and questions her standing between him and the "takers." During one of the courses, sous-chef Jeremy Louden presents his dish only to shoot himself out of despair that he would never be on the same level as Julian. Richard, a wealthy man and the husband of Anne, attempts to leave only to have his ring finger chopped off.
After these incidents, Julian reveals that everyone will be dying tonight as a result of his bitter resentment for the takers taking advantage of artisans or if they personally irked him. He then drowns his main investor, Doug Verrick, in front of everyone. He orders the men to run into the forests to avoid getting captured by his cooks, granting them a 45 second head-start. Julian alters his schedule to expose Tyler and allows him a chance to make his own dish. However, Tyler, as a result of being called on the spot, throws random food together and fails to prepare it properly, earning disapproval from Julian. He whispers something into his ear and the latter hangs himself in a closet.
During the madness, Margot is ordered by Slowik to grab a barrel from his room, where she is attacked by Elsa. After killing her, she manages to contact the Coast Guard, but it turns out to be a ruse; the guard was really a line cook working for Julian. Enraged by Margot's betrayal, he deems her just as guilty as the others. Having gone into his room, Margot exploits what she had seen, which is a picture of Julian being awarded employee of the month while he was working happily at a greasy spoon diner, and bashes Julian's dishes by claiming that he cooks with no passion and does it with obsession. Requesting a simple cheeseburger and fries, this moves Julian enough to do her this favor, likely remembering a time he was truly happy. While he prepares the cheeseburger, Slowik's expression changes from one of intent concentration to a joyful smile: preparing the cheeseburger appeared to have, even temporarily, reignited his love of cooking. Margot takes a bite of the burger, and praises it, causing Slowik to smile genuinely. When she asks to get it to go, he allows her to leave, packing the burger for her to go as well as giving her a complimentary gift bag too. With some wordless beckoning from the now-traumatized guests, Margot escapes.
Death[]
Chef Slowik sets the restaurant on fire.
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Chef Slowik and the rest of the Hawthorne guests and staff burning alive in the restaurant fire (as witnessed by Margot)
Julian commemorates the final dish by dressing the wealthy guests in coats made of marshmallows and hats made of chocolate as well as having graham crackers spread across the floor and tables. As a tribute to s'mores, Julian delivers one final monologue and grabs some embers from the fireplace. Proclaiming that he loves all of them, meaning his chefs and potentially the guests, he throws the embers down and sets himself, the guests (alongside his mother), his staff, and his restaurant on fire as they all accept their impending fate. Safely from the island, Margot observes the destruction from the boat and continues to eat her burger.
Julian and Everyone else about to become a S'more
James gave his death (along with all the other victims of the s'mores kill) the Golden Chainsaw because it was a flashy and fitting finale.
