The Menu director Mark Mylod says he doesn't consider it a horror film (exclusive)

Watch: Mark Mylod discusses whether The Menu is a horror film

Mark Mylod says his new movie The Menu hits a 'sweet spot' between various genres and isn't a straight-forward horror film.

Ralph Fiennes leads the cast as a celebrity chef who has invited a selection of elite clients to his high-end island restaurant, only to serve up a uniquely sinister selection of dishes.

Among the guests is snobbish foodie Tyler (Nicholas Hoult), who has brought fine dining sceptic Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy) instead of the guest he had originally booked to accompany him.

Read more: Anya Taylor-Joy had to hide Potter fandom from Ralph Fiennes

"I don't see it as a horror film. I do see the trappings of a dark thriller as very much an important part of the triangle of the tone of the film," Mylod told Yahoo UK.

The director said that embracing the thriller and horror elements of Seth Reiss and Will Tracy's script — which was included on the Black List of best unproduced screenplays — allowed him to 'package the story in a really fun way'.

He added: "To me, on reading it, there was this mash-up and a triangle really of satire, dark comedy and this thriller/horror element of it. That, to me, I'd never really seen before.

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"Because I could feel it instinctively but I'd never really seen it before, that was a huge attraction of doing the film. It felt really fresh to me."

Mylod said the film "digs into bad choices that humans make" through the character played by Fiennes, who is "consumed with self-loathing but also manages to be hilarious at the same time".

He revealed that watching the film with an audience at the premiere screening in London reassured him that the tonal balance has worked as he intended.

"We had the premiere in London and, when the audience is simultaneously laughing and gasping, that's a real sweet spot for me," said Mylod.

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Mylod also confessed that he feels "so blimmin' old" when he is reminded that it has been 20 years since his directorial debut Ali G Indahouse hit cinemas.

"It was a lovely experience. Everything's a stepping stone, isn't it?" he said.

Mylod added: "That was my first journey into features, with lovely people and the brilliant Sacha [Baron Cohen] and with Working Title Films who were just a joy.

"It was a stepping stone on my life's journey — a long time ago."

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Mylod has since gone on to work on some of the most acclaimed TV shows of recent years, helming several episodes of Game of Thrones and Succession.

The Menu is in UK cinemas from 18 November.

Watch: Trailer for satirical fine dining thriller The Menu