Dining in the Dark: 10 Disturbing Food-Themed Films That Will Ruin Your Appetite

Cinema has long explored the intersection of food, horror, and social critique—but some films take it to a stomach-churning extreme. From twisted chefs and human meat pies to grotesque displays of class warfare, these movies redefine “food for thought” in the most unsettling ways. If The Menu left you hungry for more, prepare yourself—these films are far from Michelin-star material.

1. The Platform (2020) – A Social Experiment in Starvation

Ever wondered what happens when survival depends on greed? The Platform takes the concept of “eat or be eaten” to horrifying new heights—literally. Prisoners are stacked in a vertical nightmare, with food rationed from the top down. Those above gorge, while those below starve, leading to gruesome desperation. A savage allegory for class disparity, this Spanish thriller is as unsettling as it is thought-provoking.

2. Raw (2017) – The Taste of Temptation

A lifelong vegetarian, Justine, is forced to eat meat during a hazing ritual at veterinary school—only to develop an insatiable craving for human flesh. Raw serves up a coming-of-age horror story dripping with carnal hunger and societal pressure, making it one of the most disturbingly beautiful films in recent years.

3. Soylent Green (1973) – The Most Iconic Food Twist in Film History

A dystopian future. An overpopulated world. A miracle food called Soylent Green. But as Detective Thorn (Charlton Heston) uncovers the horrifying secret behind this mysterious sustenance, he delivers one of the most famous lines in cinematic history: “Soylent Green is people!” This 1973 classic remains eerily relevant, a chilling reminder of how far societies might go when resources dwindle.

4. The Stuff (1985) – Corporate Greed Served on a Silver Platter

Imagine a dessert so addictive it turns people into mindless, flesh-consuming monsters. The Stuff is a wickedly satirical critique of consumerism, where a mysterious new food product becomes a national sensation—with a deadly catch. Call it a junk food horror flick, but its commentary on capitalism hits harder than any sugar crash.

5. Red Dragon (2002) – Hannibal Returns to the Dinner Table

Long before The Silence of the Lambs, Dr. Hannibal Lecter was already feasting on his victims with refined elegance. In Red Dragon, the chilling prequel, we see the FBI turn to the cannibalistic genius for help in hunting down another twisted killer. It’s a masterclass in psychological horror—and the kind of fine dining you’d rather not experience firsthand.

6. Piggy (2022) – Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Cold

Bullied for her weight and mocked as “Piggy,” a teenage girl watches her tormentors get kidnapped—and faces a cruel choice. Piggy blends body horror with social commentary, making audiences squirm in more ways than one. The food metaphors aren’t subtle, but neither is the film’s gut-wrenching emotional impact.

7. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) – Murder on the Menu

Hell hath no fury like a barber scorned. Sweeney Todd turns the act of shaving into a slaughterhouse spectacle, with Johnny Depp’s vengeful barber dispatching victims straight into Mrs. Lovett’s infamous meat pies. A gothic musical with a side of human tragedy, this film makes you rethink every bite of pastry you’ve ever had.

8. Fresh (2022) – Dating Has Never Been This Dangerous

Swipe right at your own risk. In Fresh, a charming man sweeps a woman off her feet—only to reveal that he’s a cannibal butcher who supplies an underground market. A biting (pun intended) critique of modern dating culture, this thriller turns romance into a gourmet nightmare.

9. The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989) – Decadence Meets Disgust

Opulent, erotic, and revolting, this film is a sensory overload. A tyrannical gangster takes over an upscale restaurant, indulging in grotesque feasts while his wife secretly plots his downfall. What follows is a shocking act of revenge that makes The Menu look tame in comparison.

10. Delicatessen (1991) – A Butcher’s Darkest Secret

In a post-apocalyptic France, a butcher lures handymen to their doom—because in a world of scarcity, the only fresh meat left is human. Delicatessen is as darkly comedic as it is disturbing, a grotesque fairy tale about survival and the price of ignorance.

If The Menu left you hungry for more thought-provoking horror, these films will push your limits and challenge your appetite. But be warned—after watching, you may never look at food the same way again.