The film kicks off with Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy) and Tyler (Nicholas Hoult) anxiously awaiting their transport on a dock that leads to an exquisite island dining experience. As they bide their time, Margot lights a cigarette, prompting Tyler to chide her about ruining her palate. With a glance towards the small boat that will take them to their destination, Tyler explains that despite its size, they only cater to 12 exclusive guests for a hefty price of $1250 each, ensuring a substantial profit for themselves.
Upon boarding, they encounter other guests, including Lillian Bloom (Janet McTeer)—a food critic whose effusive praise for Hawthorn’s culinary delights when it first opened has made her something of a gastronomic oracle. Accompanying her is her husband Ted (Paul Adelstein). Tyler shares his admiration for Lillian's impact on the culinary world, noting how restaurant fortunes often pivot based on her critique. Among the attendees, a trio of boisterous tech entrepreneurs chatter loudly about their financial acumen in hedge funds and cryptocurrency, exuding a sense of confidence that quickly borders on arrogance.
The journey unfolds on the boat, where the captain—far from a mere transporter—gives an introduction to the 30-minute ride to the culinary haven. They are joined by a movie star, John Leguizamo (John Leguizamo), who expresses his annoyance at his assistant Felicity (Aimee Carrero) for selecting such an elaborate affair for dinner. A small bite is served as they sip champagne, with the fare being described in a manner befitting high society. Tyler, ever the foodie, captures the moment with his camera, while Margot's disinterest sets the tone for an evening that promises more mystery than mere opulence.
The boat arrives at the island, where the guests are greeted by an ensemble of servers and house staff. One server, Elsa (Hong Chau), a restaurant captain, fixes her gaze on Margot with a hint of suspicion, remarking that she wasn’t who Tyler originally intended to accompany him. Tyler admits to a change of plans following a breakup, but Elsa remains unsettled by this revelation.
As the twelve guests settle in, two regulars, Anne (Judith Light) and her husband Richard (Reed Birney), bypass introductions and head straight for the restaurant. Elsa introduces the others to an alluring promise: a unique narrative woven through the menu that has never been told before and will not be again. This sets the stage for a complex evening that involves not only members of the culinary world but also intertwines their alibis and transgressions.
They embark on a tour of the island, a stunning twelve-acre stretch of land with both forested areas and coastal access, explaining that the manila clams they will savor tonight were harvested just moments before their arrival. Commentary that veers into the absurd is offered by one of the tech bros, who jokes about the meat aging process before receiving an unnervingly detailed response from Elsa about the possible consequences—should the meat surpass its ideal aging period. "At this temperature, on the 153rd day, the bacteria, having breached the interior of the flesh, would seep into the customer’s bloodstream and produce a series of very unpleasant symptoms... So, yes. All hell breaks loose!"
Next on the agenda is a visit to the root cellar, where Elsa expertly lists the known allergies of the guests and assures them that the menu accounts for their dietary restrictions. The team arrives at the bunkhouse where the staff resides, a space reminiscent of military barracks. Elsa emphasizes the sense of familial duty among the staff as they work their grueling hours to orchestrate an evening that will remain etched in the memories of their guests. Their labor included the arduous processes of harvesting, gathering, fermenting, and more—an intricate dance executed behind the scenes that will set the atmosphere for the dining experience.
Their journey continues to the moment of entering the Hawthorn restaurant, a stunning space that houses a bustling open kitchen. Margot observes an older woman sitting alone in a dim corner with just a glass of wine, creating an eerie juxtaposition to the otherwise confident face of their dining party. Chef Slowik (Ralph Fiennes) appears, setting the tone as he outlines the meticulous art and science of what they will consume that evening. He breaks the bread: there’s none—an audacious twist on the expected ritual of fine dining. Instead, they receive a “breadless bread plate,” a bold statement about the class dynamics surrounding food and an immediate indicator that this culinary experience will be anything but conventional.
As each course progresses, the guests engage in varying degrees of delight and discontent over the dishes, from initial wonder to foreshadowing unease as Elsa remains attentive to both the chef's and the guests’ reactions. Little by little, an undercurrent of tension builds as each dish seems to carry more than just flavor; they become meals laden with secrets, revelations, and critique of the lives lived by the dining party.
No one, however, anticipates the shocking climax that awaits as layers of the evening reveal darker, sinister intentions that abruptly shift the atmosphere from an indulgent celebration of haute cuisine to a harrowing exploration of art, class, and the human condition. The once-celebrated chef confronts the guests with the weight of their actions and choices—an unexpected reckoning that transforms their night from one of privilege to grim survival. Through the narrative’s fabric weaves Margot's struggle for liberation amidst the culinary chaos, ultimately leading her to demand, “a cheeseburger.”
In the end, as the restaurant is consumed in flames following the explosive culmination of their experiences, Margot emerges victorious; not just in escaping but in reclaiming her autonomy with a simple act of enjoying food for what it should be: something shared lovingly rather than a battleground for power dynamics. She takes a moment to savor her newfound freedom back on the dock, munching on a cheeseburger—a poignant reminder of simplicity amidst the extravagant chaos of that fateful night.
