FRESH: A New Taste Of Horror

Intimacy, too often applied to the interaction of humans, has its applications beyond the skin, flesh, and emotional attachments. For many, there is an intimacy in the food they eat, a tantalizing experience of taste and smell that can level on euphoria. From dives delivering grounded experiences to elevated creations of elite proportions, food is a daily necessity that has become a form of expression. Mimi Cave’s Fresh embraces the intimacy of food, bringing the horrors its infatuation can create in its most extreme form.

It is a seductive horror, toying with the audience’s expectations of intimacy while giving a horrific take on the modern dating scene. With an almost two-hour run time, there is intrigue as to how a horror film can maintain the momentum and captivate an audience for the entirety of its run time. And while it does lag at times, Fresh is a captivating horror sure to satisfy the appetites of horror fans alike.

A Fresh Opening

There is almost a Valentine feeling to the opening of Fresh, Noa (Daisy Edgar-Jones) on a date with a guy she met on the dating app Puzzle Piece.Where her interaction with Chad (Brett Dier) establishes the present bleak dating scene women find themselves subject to in a modern digital world, it also clearly establishes her relationship with her friend Mollie (Jojo T. Gibbs). An immediate lifeline on speed dial, Mollie and  Noa know one another through and through, both encouraging and cautionary of each other’s dating journey.

It is impressive how, in just one phone call and a brief boxing match interaction following Noa’s date with Chad, Fresh is able to effectively establish Noa and Mollie’s relationship. It feels old and weathered, providing authenticity to the feeling that something may be wrong and an inkling that it may not be the other person on the opposite side of the phone. Horror films too often lean into hollow characters and relationships, and Fresh delivers a “fresh” take on the depths that can be provided instantly with the right dialogue.

As the bleak landscape of modern dating does not seem to cater to Noa, a random interaction at the grocery store gives a small glimmer of hope. While shopping through the produce section, Noa is approached by Steve (Sebastian Stan), whose conversation starter regarding the taste of cotton candy grapes leans into the film’s constant focus on food. As the relationship between Noa and Steve blossoms, there is a whirlwind feeling to the pairing, audiences knowing the red flags and warning signs that Noa is ignoring – but wanting her to achieve the relationship she has longed for. She may not want to date, but she wants intimacy.

Fresh Intimacy

Fresh gives a new perspective to the intimacy that can be established within a film. From the very beginning, the camera closes in on Noa, framing extreme close-ups on her mouth and eyes. As the camera embraces the traditional intimacy of the close-up, it also embraces the intimacy of food. But it is not only in close-ups, throughout the film, but much of the initial interactions between characters is also in the presence of food as well.

Chad and Noa with their Chinese cuisine on their date, Mollie eating a burrito while conversing with Noa, Steve offering her a grape and Noa shown intimately eating while working alone speaks to the intimacy both explored and continued through the presence of food. As the film progresses to more extreme savory ventures, this intimacy within the food and the human spirit is heightened, literally ingesting the food itself is the intimacy and the permanently connecting factor between individuals.

Crafting the horror

Fresh has a few surprises up its sleeve, one of them being that it is not a horror film until after its first act. The first act plays more along the lines of a romantic comedy, two unsuspecting individuals meeting, a whirlwind relationship launching the euphoric nature of desire and love. Images that were released early for the film show Steve and Noa sitting in a booth, conversing over drinks, the image as far from ominous as it can be. It’s as if the first half of the film itself is its own internal pre-production, building the characters and the authenticity for what is to come.

As the true nature of the film emerges, the color palette shifts the feel as the red flags culminate Fresh launches into its opening title and credits, and almost Texas Chainsaw feel to the montage that accompanies it. Not in the eerie nature of sound, but the eerie nature of the surroundings it captures. It continues the intimate feeling, close-ups on elements of the house maintaining the feel of the opening to its transitioning genre. It unifies the beginning with the rest of the film, giving this risky move a unique and fresh payoff.

As Fresh dives into the whos and the whys, there is a feeling that not only is it based on the idea of fresh meat and fresh kills, but a fresh perspective to an avenue of the horror genre that is usually depicted as too grotesque to welcome a diverse audience. Fresh, however, toes the line of gore, interweaving humor, and clever narrative structure that welcomes a wide-ranging audience.

Sebastian Stan and Daisy Edgar-Jones both deliver effective performances throughout the film’s entirety. Jones and fellow co-star Jojo T. Gibbs solidify themselves as formidable final girls, each embracing the horror of the experience and the strength of their respective characters. They understand the depth of their character, and the range needed, Jones especially perfecting the art of illusion. If a sequel was ever contemplated, it needs to include both of these powerful performers.

Stan is impactful as well, a cry for more “bad guy” performances sure to be on the horizon. He embraces the humor, playfully delivering each element of dialogue while embracing the deeper elements of his character’s loneliness and vulnerability. However, there is a bit of Tommy Lee that lingers from his recent take in Pam & Tommy that does detach him at times from his take here in Fresh. It is not detrimental to his performance or the film itself but does leech a bit of the effective nature of his character.

Conclusion

It’s hard to talk all about Fresh without giving away some its more delicious and tantalizing details. There are moments where audiences will find themselves engorged by the experience, this typically gross avenue finding a new perspective and route of expression. While the film does linger at times, underutilizing a few characters along the way, Fresh is a welcomed addition to the world of horror.

Have you seen Fresh? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below!

Fresh is now streaming on Hulu!

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