FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE YET TO SEE FRESH, THIS IS A NON-SPOILER REVIEW.

Lost in the Reel’s video review of Fresh

I’m just going to get this pun out of the way before I start, because I just have to… but DAMN, was Fresh so refreshing. Rather than showing all of its cards up front, this insane little movie takes its time, peeling back each layer of its story, every moment becoming more engrossing than the last. (This is proven by the fact that the title sequence doesn’t even show up until forty minutes into the film). The movie is constantly subverting expectations as well. Every time I thought I knew exactly where Fresh was going, it went somewhere completely different instead. 

WHAT IS FRESH ALL ABOUT?

Frustrated by scrolling dating apps only to end up on lame, tedious dates, Noa takes a chance by giving her number to the awkwardly charming Steve after a produce-section meet-cute at the grocery store. During a subsequent date at a local bar, sassy banter gives way to a chemistry-laden hookup, and a smitten Noa dares to hope that she might have actually found a real connection with the dashing cosmetic surgeon. She accepts Steve’s invitation to an impromptu weekend getaway, only to find that her new paramour has been hiding some unusual appetites.

HOW ARE SEBASTIAN STAN & DAISY EDGAR-JONES?

People will be comparing Sebastian Stan’s performance to that of Christian Bale’s in American Psycho… and they are not wrong. The character he creates in Steve is one so heinous and deplorable, that you just can’t help but love to hate him and so, Stan delivers his best performance to date. And Daisy Edgar-Jones proves to be his perfect foil. Meek, yet mighty… innocent, but also highly intuitive. They truly make one helluva duo. 

HOW IS THE WRITING AND DIRECTION?

Critics have been praising first-time feature director Mimi Cave for her assured work here… as they should be… but, I think it’s Lauryn Kahn’s deliciously twisted screenplay that is the real standout. Her script highlights the way that men take advantage of women, slowly hacking away at them (metaphorically), until they have taken a piece of what they think is rightfully theirs. And also the way others enable this kind of poisonous behavior. It’s heavy stuff, but written in a way that is darkly funny and gripping to see unravel.

WILL FRESH BE “TOO MUCH” FOR MAINSTREAM AUDIENCES?

I do think that Fresh will be too “out there” and disturbing for mainstream audiences. But, and I know this might sound bad, I didn’t think it took it far enough. This is definitely one of those cases of “if you’re going to put it all out there and go there, you better just GO THERE”. And I also think there is a subplot involving a character that I think could have been cut completely. Other than that, Fresh is a brilliant and gruesome ride that will make you squirm until you cheer.

Now, just give me a smile 🙂

Fresh will be streaming on HULU Friday, March 4th.

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