Hulu’s original film “Fresh” circumvents many typical horror-thriller tropes for a unique and exciting movie that is sure to satisfy. With the title and intro credits not appearing until 33 minutes into the film, it is clear to viewers they will be in for an innovative treat.
In the directorial debut of Mimi Cave, “Fresh” follows the love life of Noa (Daisy Edgar-Jones, “Normal People”) as she tries and fails to find someone she truly connects with. However, once Noa meets plastic surgeon Steve (Sebastian Stan, “Captain America: Civil War”) in the produce section of the grocery store, a bond is formed between them. After a few dates and heartfelt moments, Noa begins to believe she has found someone worthwhile; Steve is funny, kind, attractive and attentive. So, when Steve invites Noa to a surprise weekend getaway, she does not think much of it, despite the warning from her best friend Mollie (Jojo T. Gibbs, “Twenties”), who is skeptical of Steve and his handful of red flags. When Noa arrives at Steve’s vacation home, everything seems picturesque and perfect until she meets the real Steve and his unusual appetites.
Stan’s acting is one of the highlights of the film, as Steve is an incredibly well-played, complex character maintaining a kind, humorous and human persona throughout the entire film. Stan’s execution is so convincing that an unknowing watcher may not suspect his villainy at all. Perhaps advertisers of “Fresh” should have gone the “Hereditary” route and obscured the nature of the movie, preserving the most interesting aspects of the film.
The directing, cinematography and sound design are other strong elements of the movie. A few examples include the shots focusing on mouths, and the over-emphasis of chewing sounds help to drive home the overall theme of the film. The scenes are also often juxtaposed with others, such as one with a shot of Noa’s mouth followed by a scene focused on Mollie’s eyes. In all, the directing and technical aspects of the film are superb.
“Fresh” evades regular horror tropes by making the characters intelligent. Instead of a typical horror movie where the viewer wants to yell at the person to do the commonsensical thing, they just do it. This makes the film less frustrating and more realistic, and therefore more frightening. The film still has its stereotypes and cliches, but it is not so predictable that it is boring. As with most movies, there are things you can foresee, but “Fresh” has twists that keep the viewer entertained.
Despite the film’s disturbing premise, “Fresh” is not all that gory, making it more digestible for people interested in a thriller. There are some potentially disturbing scenes; it is a horror movie, after all. However, there are only a handful of shots involving blood, and “Fresh” is not gory just to be gory; the unsettling elements have a purpose.
One of the few missteps in the movie is the character of Paul (Dayo Okeniyi, “Emperor”), Mollie’s former lover and bartender for one of Noa and Steve’s dates. The character acts as a source of information and safety for Mollie as she tries to help Noa, but he does nothing at the end of the film. This can be viewed as a good thing, as the women reach a resolution instead of being saved by a man. Despite the potential moral significance of his involvement, the character seems like a useless plothole.
Overall, “Fresh” is an exciting and captivating film with creative concepts and few blunders. It is sure to please any movie lover, especially a horror or thriller fanatic.
Image from ONE Media via YouTube
