Shocking Revelation: Chef Slowik's involvement in Margot's death exposed through The Menu Theory

In the movie's ending, Margot's fate is questioned in the popular The Menu theory. Some believe that Chef Slowik may have actually killed her, despite her appearing to escape unharmed. The Menu, a punchy and poignant dark comedy horror movie, delves into the dynamics between consumers and creators, highlighting broader themes of classism. Amidst the chaos of murders and mayhem, audiences find themselves cheering for Margot, the determined protagonist, as she fights to survive.

At the conclusion of The Menu, viewers witness Margot eating her cheeseburger on a boat, seemingly safe while the restaurant and its inhabitants burn to the ground. The perplexing aspect is why Chef Slowik allowed Margot to survive when he had intended for her to perish alongside the restaurant's staff. This ambiguity, coupled with a detail from the beginning of the movie, has given rise to a dark theory that Chef Slowik ultimately poisons Margot.

Theory: Chef Slowik Killed Margot By Using Day-Old Beef In The Cheeseburger

Why Chef Slowik May Have Wanted To Kill Margot (Despite Letting Her Go)

At the beginning of the film, the group, unaware of the impending danger, is taken on a tour of Hawthorn, the restaurant situated on the remote island of The Menu. The tour highlights various areas, including the smokehouse where Elsa, a staff member, reveals that they age the meat of dairy cows for a staggering 152 days. In a lighthearted exchange, when asked about the consequences of consuming the beef on the 153rd day, Elsa humorously suggests that the bacteria would make itself at home in the consumer's bloodstream, spreading to their spinal membranes and ultimately causing incapacitation and demise. This scene not only serves to establish the movie's darker undertones but also fuels speculation that Chef Slowik might have incorporated some of this lethal beef into the poisoned burger he later serves Margot in the final act.

It is logical that Chef Slowik may have still desired to harm Margot despite releasing her, as this aligns perfectly with his consistent characterization throughout the revelation of Chef Slowik's The Menu plan.

Initially, it becomes evident that even when he discovers she is employed in the service industry just like him, this does not ensure her safety, but simply reduces Slowik's disdain towards her.

Furthermore, when Margot discloses her true identity as Erin and explains that she was hired as an escort by Tyler, despite being aware that she would perish if she were to accompany them, Chef Slowik merely offers her the opportunity to die alongside the staff, rather than as one of the guests.

The Menu theory is supported by Slowik's merciless nature when determining someone's worthiness for a painful demise by burning them alive like a human marshmallow. For instance, Felicity, a personal assistant, is targeted because she attended Ivy League Brown University without having any student loans. Her murder becomes part of The Menu's plan, without clarifying whether it is because she received a scholarship or comes from a wealthy background. Although the latter is more likely, the scene is darkly amusing due to the ruthless spontaneity of this decision.

Margot's effort to remind Chef Slowik of his once pure love for food, before societal influences tainted it, may not be enough to save her according to this criterion. However, it could still result in Slowik granting her a less agonizing death. A "short" death caused by a carefully crafted cheeseburger could meet these criteria, and it would also explain why Slowik spares Margot. Moreover, this contrasting fate would further highlight what happened to Tyler in The Menu. Additionally, Margot's acquisition of a barrel from the smokehouse, unbeknownst to Slowik and the meticulous preparation, could be explained by her poisoning by Slowik.

How Chef Slowik Killing Margot Completely Changes The Menu's Ending

Chef Slowik's decision to let Margot live in The Menu movie ending seemed to reflect his appreciation for his humble beginnings and Margot's reminder of the simple atmosphere they once enjoyed. By allowing her to leave unharmed, he demonstrated that his passion for creating good food still burned within him, despite his resentment towards the high-class trappings of the culinary industry. However, the suggestion that Chef Slowik poisons Margot with The Menu burger completely alters the ending of the film. This implies that Slowik may be symbolically repeating his own fate. In a deleted scene, it is revealed that Slowik had previously disappeared from the fine dining scene when he was at the peak of his career, only to later be rediscovered and forced back into it by food critic Lillian. The concept of escaping only to be dragged back into the same fate would be fitting for the chef to recreate, with his act of killing Margot serving as a reflection of how this "rediscovery" ultimately extinguished his remaining hopes, taking away the character audiences were rooting for to survive.

Why Chef Slowik Poisoning Margot Makes The Menu Worse

The question of whether Margot dies in The Menu is open-ended, allowing the viewer to decide. However, if the answer is definitively "yes," it undermines the quality of the movie and weakens its underlying messages. The Menu primarily explores Chef Slowik's disdain for the industry he has perfected and the individuals involved in it. Slowik identifies with Margot because she is not one of those individuals, and his intentions are not to harm her. If Slowik were to kill Margot using The Menu's poisoned burger, it would transform him into a purely villainous character rather than a nuanced and troubled antagonist.