The sensational Hulu exclusive, “Fresh” has been making waves around the internet lately and for good reason. Part satire, thriller and feminist revenge flick, director Mimi Cave’s debut film is a clever examination of modern dating from a female perspective, with a dark twist. This article contains minor spoilers; if you’ve never watched the film before, I recommend going in with no prior knowledge.
“Fresh” follows Noa, played by Daisy Edgar Jones, a young woman who has had one too many bad experiences with online dating, as she meets and gets to know the charming Steve, played by Sebastian Stan. The first thirty minutes of the movie paint a heartening picture of the budding romance between the two characters. So, when Steve invites Noa on a weekend trip to an unknown location, she excitedly, if unwisely, agrees. Not until too late does she discover that Steve is a cold-blooded liar and cannibal who sells women’s meat to a clientele of cannibalistic, rich old men.
The film walks the line between grotesque and comical. Steve, in particular, feels comically rendered in his over-the-top despicable behavior, which gives viewers all the more reason to root against him. Despite its lurid moments, the film doesn’t take itself too seriously and retains an entertaining flair: perfect for watching with friends.
Warm, red-toned lighting, close-up shots of mouths and meat-related hints are cleverly sprinkled throughout the movie, foreshadowing the gore to come. The various close-ups of body parts objectify the characters, breaking them down to nothing more than meat and flesh, just as Steve does to women’s bodies. Additionally, the score of upbeat, 80s music, which Steve happily dances to while cutting up human meat, only further accentuates the juxtaposition between his normal facade and true, twisted self.
Stan convincingly portrays Steve’s divide between charming and psychopathic, evoking Christian Bale’s portrayal of Patrick Bateman in “American Psycho.” Additionally, Jones does an excellent job playing a smart woman who must fight her way out of a deadly mistake. Her determination to do whatever it takes to survive culminates in Steve’s destruction, and, in turn, the downfall of his misogynistic crimes.
Despite the incredible cinematography, camera work, and acting, the movie contains a few cheesy moments in the script and cliché character roles. For example, Mollie, played by Jonica T. Gibbs, falls into the trope of the supportive, funny black best friend who immediately identifies the main character’s situation as sketchy and must save them, similar to Lil Rel Howery’s character in “Get Out.” In a way, both of these characters play the role of the average viewer by being skeptical of the inevitable dumb decisions that main characters make in horror movies. This makes them likable and humorous. Still, the funny, black sidekick cliche feels a bit overdone in films in general.
“Fresh” joins movies like “Promising Young Woman” in a new movement in popular media that illuminates the female perspective in situations where misogynistic men face no consequences for their actions. Only in this new genre do women dismantle patriarchal oppression and take revenge. From its tame, pseudo-rom-com opening to its exhilarating end, “Fresh” is a movie you don’t want to miss.
