Fresh is easily the most disturbing and twisted film I've seen in a long time. A woman tired of the online dating scene meets a handsome stranger at the supermarket. A whirlwind romance leads to a weekend getaway with a horrific outcome. Fresh had me laughing out loud. Then gasping in abject disgust. The film's subject matter is beyond macabre. Don't watch Fresh on a full stomach.
Noa (Daisy Edgar-Jones) is a sweet and friendly woman who's had bad luck dating. Every guy she meets online and in real life is a jerk. A chance encounter at her local supermarket seems like a dream come true. Steve (Sebastian Stan) is a handsome, funny doctor oozing charisma. Noa falls into his arms happily. Her best friend, Millie (Jonica T. Gibbs), is highly skeptical. Steve has no social media presence whatsoever. Noa finds that refreshing. She quickly agrees when Steve asks her to his cabin for the weekend.
Noa is intimidated by Steve's sophisticated taste. She can't get a cell phone signal. His wireless network is also not working. She discounts every warning sign. They did want to get away from it all. Noa wakes up after a cocktail from Steve. The terror of the situation sinks in. She begs Steve not to rape her. Steve calmly replies that he's not going to sexually assault her. He and his clients just want her for dinner.
From Romance To Cannibalism
Fresh goes from bubbly romance to repugnant cannibalism in an instant. Director Mimi Cave, in her feature debut, channels an American Psycho approach to Noa's heinous predicament. Sebastian Stan sings and dances to eighties music as he works in the kitchen. Joyfully slicing delectable cuts of tasty flesh. These scenes are darkly comedic. You can't help but laugh at his meticulous preparation.
Noa's captivity takes many unexpected turns. Daisy Edgar-Jones goes on an emotional and physical rollercoaster ride. What begins as relationship bliss transforms into cunning survival. Noa must use every tool at her disposal to manipulate Steve. Fresh's second act shocks on multiple levels. Psychological subterfuge is accompanied by a return to romance and butchery. These scenes are riveting. They're revolting as hell, but you can't tear your eyes away from the screen.
Mimi Cave and screenwriter Lauryn Kahn skewer modern dating culture. Noa would never get into a car with a stranger. But loneliness and frustration with digital interactions allow her to be easily duped. She lets her guard down because Steve was simply a nice guy. It never occurred to her that he was too good to be true. Noa curses her stupidity. This mistake often proves fatal for women. Not vetting a partner could make you the main course.
Fresh succumbs to horror genre tropes in the final act. I had major issues with the resolve. The characters behave unrealistically in an obvious fight or flight encounter. That's disappointing because Fresh had been so original and clever, but it's an astonishing experience overall. The vegan ranks will swell after this one. Avoid Fresh at all costs if you're squeamish.
Fresh is a production of Legendary Pictures and Hyperobject industries. It will premiere on March 4th exclusively on Hulu from Searchlight Pictures.