Fresh will likely be one of this spring's buzziest releases. The horror-comedy stars Sebastian Stan as charming Steve who can dance the pants off any internet date, along with Daisy Edgar-Jones as Noa who can’t seem to catch a break on the dating scene — until Steve, of course. The only catch? Steve loves to eat…human flesh.
Here are your five screenwriting takeaways from the anti-romance that will make you want to delete your dating profile. (Spoilers ahead!)
1. A fiendish foodie. Stan as the fiendish (and charming) foodie, Steve, loves to tell his dinner companions how much ingredients cost. Perhaps where the film lacks the most is in keeping Steve shallow. This character has little explanation for his eating habits. It keeps him in the money as he sells his victims to the wealthy. He prefers eating women (as do his clients) and he likes the idea that it’s the ultimate sacrifice — to literally give yourself to someone. Beyond that, he has little life philosophy. But maybe in this case, it doesn’t matter, as one may guess if you asked Stan about Steve’s philosophies he’d always have an answer for you. Stan has stated he prepped for the role by chatting with a psychologist who has studied serial killers (along with researching Ted Bundy). Regardless, Stan seems to be having fun in every single role he takes on lately and the role of Steve is no exception.
2. Upending romantic comedy tropes. Writer Lauryn Kahn cleverly plays with rom-com tropes throughout this horror-comedy, and in all honesty, Noa’s opening date is so bitingly real it’s almost just as horrific as her time with Steve even though the scene is meant to be comedic relief. Regardless, Steve and Noa still get a meet-cute of their own. Steve gets a chance to woo Noa with his dance moves and flattery, and he absolutely feels too good to be true. Not to mention Noa upends the idea of a romantic dinner date in the best way possible. Here is where the film is the most surprising and seems to deliver the most on its promise of the premise to be a fun, kitschy, and horrific delight.
3. Feminism partially examined. Fresh presents a lot of complicated themes that almost deserve a sequel. Steve does not deem all his victims equal. Noa is special because they slept together and Steve finds something unique in her off-kilter perspective). Meanwhile, Noa has a Black best friend in Mollie (the wonderfully unwavering Jojo T. Gibbs) who, while not afraid to call out her best friend for her dependence (it ain’t cheap, boo!) does have to save Noa’s ass (literally) in much of the third act of the film. Not to mention, Steve has a wife who seems ready to sell out other women in a heartbeat. While this is called out as well, Fresh’s thesis statement on woman power feels a bit muddled and it would have been wonderful to have received a clear statement from Noa on what her takeaway is after this experience —aside from survival.
4. Mimi Cave’s style. First-time feature director Mimi Cave is undoubtedly here to stay. Her vision and style permeate the film and the movie feels like a fever dream of a gourmet cooking reality show meets some kind of Love is Blind dystopia set in a mansion only a cannibalistic plastic surgeon could afford. Her direction is assured, astute, and she lets her actors milk their moments while supporting them with intentional color schemes, shifts of genre, and risky choices left and right, and it’s a lovely coming into one’s own moment to behold.
5. The meat market metaphor. Fresh is not afraid to hit its main metaphor over the head. Dating apps are a meat market. Swiping rarely works. The gamification of love is mostly serving the patriarchy, and, hell yes, it’s disturbing. Ultimately this movie is horrific. And that’s exactly the point. The sensual and the repulsive are so closely related here and the idea of a dog-eat-dog, or in this case man-eat-woman, world is constantly on the tip of the tongue. Cave will not let you quickly forget how our instant gratification society (that would seemingly do anything for a temporary satisfying thrill) has turned the pursuit of love into a veritable hellscape.
Final Takeaway: Under Cave’s assured directions and Sebastian Stan’s unnerving gaze, Fresh is a watch that won't be quickly forgotten. Just be sure to schedule your viewing on a date-free evening.