Starring Sebastian Stan and Daisy Edgar-Jones, FRESH follows the horrors of modern dating seen through one young woman’s defiant battle to survive her new boyfriend’s unusual appetites.

Noa (Daisy Edgar-Jones), a young woman weary of disappointing online dating experiences, goes on another date with a man who texts her to bring cash to the Chinese restaurant where they’re meeting because it doesn’t accept credit cards. During dinner, he repeatedly insults her dress, saying it’s not what he would expect his ideal woman to wear. At the end of their evening, they agree to part ways, both relieved to be rid of the other’s company.

As Noa browses the aisles of the supermarket, a handsome man named Steve (Sebastian Stan) approaches her. He strikes up a conversation, flirting playfully as they select their groceries. Noa senses a spark of chemistry between them, believing that fate has finally brought her a man with both good looks and a sense of humor. When he asks for her phone number, she eagerly obliges.

Noa and Steve quickly bond on their first date. She learns that he is a plastic surgeon who eschews social media. They embark on several subsequent dates, and one evening, Steve invites Noa on a weekend getaway, keeping the destination a secret, citing the desire to surprise her.

Infatuated with Steve, Noa places her trust in him and agrees to the weekend getaway. However, her skeptical best friend Mollie (Jojo T. Gibbs) strongly advises against this decision, warning her of the dangers of traveling with a stranger she met at a supermarket. When Mollie attempts to research Steve online, she finds no trace of him, despite his claims of being a plastic surgeon. Lacking any social media presence, Mollie deems Steve a red flag. Mollie suspects that he may be hiding something, but Noa is blinded by love and refuses to listen.

Mimi Cave’s directorial debut, FRESH, is a suspenseful thriller that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats with its unexpected twists and turns. The most memorable character is Mollie, whose actions and decisions are grounded in common sense, a rare commodity in this genre. Nevertheless, the film’s midsection could be trimmed down a little to tighten the narrative and create a more robust cinematic experience.

FRESH premiered online at the Sundance Film Festival on 20 January 2022. The film was released on Hulu in the United States on 4 March.