Fresh New Horror Movie Honest Review

Movie Review 

Online dating is rarely easy. If you've ever seen the MTV series or had your share of bad dates, this is something you already know. Noa (Daisy Edgar-Jones) is no stranger to the modern dating world, and when we first see her, she's having a less-than-pleasant dinner with another loser she met online.

  Thankfully, she gets rid of this creep quickly, but before she has time to slide left on other male pigs, she meets plastic surgeon Steve (Sebastian Stan) at the local supermarket. It wasn't long before he swept her off her feet and set her up for a surprise weekend date.  

Lead Pair 

  Although Noa and Steve share chemistry, their relationship changes when they later discover her rather nasty secret. So things eventually veer into horror movie territory as Noa is captured and placed in an adjoining cell with the other kidnapped women. It soon becomes clear why Steve kidnaps her, but I wouldn't give away too many spoilers as it might spoil your appetite for the rest of the movie.

 

Masterful Casting 

 The casting of Sebastian Stan is masterful as he has rarely been cast in villainous roles. He's sweet, charming, and seems quite normal unlike many of the men Noah meets, so the revelation of the dark side of his character surprises both him and the viewer. Still, Noah isn't about to get involved. She's been hurt before, and despite Steve hurting her again – in unimaginable ways – she has the strength to hold her own and face her captor.

  Director Mimi Cave, who makes her feature directorial debut here, is adept at maintaining tension. Once Steve's unsavory past was revealed, a lesser director could have made a film that was less different from the torture porn movies we've seen before. His ability to keep us on the edge of our seats, despite the familiarity of the plot, does a lot to keep us interested, even when some of the narrative becomes a little hard to stomach later in the film. 

Main Focus

 Although the main focus of the film is on Noah and Steve, there is still room to make the presence of other characters known. Jojo T. Gibbs is a standout as Noah's best friend Molly, a woman who has every right to be suspicious of Noah's recent beau.

  When her boyfriend goes missing, Mollie enlists the help of her ex-bartender boyfriend Paul (Dayo Okeniyi), and their involvement in the plot creates more shocks and surprises along the way. We also meet Steve's wife Ann (Charlotte Le Bon), a sweet woman who seems unaware that her husband likes to get up when he's away from home.

 

Positives 

 With a good cast, a swashbuckling plot, and moments of black comedy that tear apart the grim realities we're presented with, Fresh manages to keep things fresh throughout its almost two-hour runtime. It's nice to watch because it's not as horrible as it could be. There are scare scenes, but they're not over the top, so you won't be forced to cover your eyes or put away your Saturday night food while watching.

  In the last third of the film, things get a little more normal. As expected, a rescue attempt is made and the tables turn on Steve before he gets the chance to outdo Noah. The film goes into standard thriller mode and ditches some of the shock value moments that preceded it. However, more plot twists occur before the predictability kicks in fully and the film once again manages to surprise.

Not Best Horror Movie 

  Fresh won't be the best horror movie you'll see this year. It won't be the most original either. But as an exploration of the dark side of modern dating and the risks we take every time we decide to swipe right (or strike up a conversation with someone in the fruit and veg aisle), it mostly pays off.

 Probably not a movie to watch on your first date, especially if you don't know their taste in movies (and couch snacks). But if you're home alone or have a trusted partner and you're hungry for a movie that's both chilling and thrilling, this might satisfy your particular appetite.