A ‘Fresh’ take on modern dating with Sebastian Stan, Daisy Edgar-Jones

A March 3 college roundtable with actors Sebastian Stan and Daisy Edgar-Jones shed light on the process of filming their new movie “Fresh,” a genre-blending social critique that defies typical romantic comedy tropes. Photo collage by DANIEL PEARSON, Photo Editor

To become a serial killer, you need to do your research. 

You’ll quickly learn that only amateurs go straight for the kill; the successful ones know how to put up an innocent front. Acclaimed actor Sebastian Stan knew that the only way to truly transform into a meticulous and carefully crafted killer was to learn from the best. 

Luckily, his studying of serial killers was strictly to shape the mannerisms and nuances of his character Steve in the new film “Fresh,” which is directed by Mimi Cave. Stan and his co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones sat down virtually March 3 with a group of college journalists from around the country to discuss the experience of filming, sources of artistic inspiration and the techniques they apply to their preparation.

“There was definitely a pattern to a lot of those successful serial killers like Ted Bundy — they seemingly presented a certain kind of life and charm,” Stan said at the roundtable. “The movie lets you, as an audience, make up your own perceptions about (Steve). It’s all in the world of making him look and appear safe.”

But beyond the charismatic and somewhat dorky charm, Steve is far from safe. The film revolves around Noa (played by Edgar-Jones), sick of the online dating scene, who meets Steve in a grocery store. Not long after, their relationship takes off and Steve invites her on a weekend getaway. 

Prior to their trip, Noa spends the night at Steve’s luxury home where she’s drugged. She later wakes up in captivity, where it’s revealed Steve is a cannibal, human butcher and meat distributor. Noa then must find a way to survive Steve’s cravings.

“I was drawn to (the story), because I’d never read anything like it before,” Edgar-Jones said at the event. “I thought, ‘What an opportunity to do something different.’ I knew it was going to be visually interesting as well as the content being interesting, too.”

Although Cave has experience directing short films and music videos, “Fresh” is her feature directorial debut. Stan told The Panther that Cave was extremely prepared for production and maintained a specific creative vision when taking on the film.

“I think the one thing that (Cave) really understood was the way the movie needed to feel and how it should be shot,” Stan told The Panther. “It remains visually engaging, even in the slower and more (dialogue-heavy) parts of the movie. I think she was careful with the violence, not to overdo it, but (to) keep the tense moments as the more frightening part of the movie.”

Despite the gravity of the situation, elements of humor manage to permeate throughout the film. According to Edgar-Jones, the balance between horror and humor was evident even in the script, written by Lauryn Kahn. 

“I really wanted to explore something that was grounded from the female perspective in the dating world, but also had this levity to it that once you are believing the characters, and you’re with them, (you don’t continue) to live in the darkness the whole time,” said Kahn in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “I feel when you have something that could end up being heavy-handed … the levity and mix of tones helps to be able to explore things.”

Although the film’s plot twist signifies a shift from a romantic comedy to a horror thriller, Stan said the film is effective in blending the two genres together. 

“(The film) does start out one way (by having) these romantic comedy tendencies, and then halfway through, the rug gets pulled,” Stan told the audience. “But you don’t lose the beginning; you don’t lose (the) characters, and you don’t lose their banter or whatever their connection and dynamic was. It almost doesn’t stop being a romantic comedy.”

One element that Edgar-Jones said she appreciated about the script was the way it celebrates female friendships. Noa’s best friend, Molly (played by Jojo T. Gibbs), keeps a close eye on Noa’s dating life and steps up to the plate when her suspicions about Steve reach a boiling point. While detained, Noa also befriends Penny (played by Andrea Bang) — another girl Steve is holding hostage — and the duo must collaborate to plot their escape. 

“(Noa and Penny’s shared) experiences with each other starts to enable (these women) to work together and overcome their situation,” Edgar-Jones said to event attendees. “I love that ultimately, they sort of save themselves and they’re not saved. It’s their strength that gets them through, and I think it’s really important to celebrate friendships like that on screen.”

Stan said he hopes “Fresh” can bring awareness to some of the domestic violence and dangers that women experience on dating apps and in relationships. 

“I think this was a very different telling of a meeting between two people that starts off one way and obviously becomes something else,” Stan said at the March 3 roundtable. “There’s a lot that appears to be a certain way that then gets revealed. We’re just hoping people can understand the undercurrents and themes of the movie while going on the journey.”

Despite the dark subject matter, Stan and Edgar-Jones were able to develop a bond during filming and “laughed the whole way through making the film,” Edgar-Jones said.

“Even though there are moments of darkness, you can see that everyone involved is actually having quite a lot of fun,” Edgar-Jones said to the audience. “It does translate on screen, even in the moments of real horror.”

“Fresh” initially premiered at Sundance Film Festival in January 2020 and is now available to be streamed on Hulu.