Fresh: Unanswered Questions in Sebastian Stan's 2022 Movie (2025)

Online dating sounds like a fun thing, but it might fall short of one's expectations. On the other hand, there is something special about meeting someone in real life, exchanging numbers, going on dates, and getting to know them organically. But what if this conventional approach turns out to be an unexpected nightmare? Well, Fresh, a 2022 thought-provoking film, serves as a perfect example of modern dating complexities and the potential trust issues it can create. The film stars Sebastian Stan as Steve and Daisy Edgar-Jones as Noa in the lead roles.

Fresh marks the directorial debut of Mimi Cave, delving deep into the themes of blind trust, cannibalism, and dark twists in modern dating. After experiencing disappointment with online dating, Noa encounters a stranger named Steve at the grocery store. Mesmerized by his irresistible charm and decency, she dives into a whirlwind romance, and their relationship intensifies quickly. Soon, he invites her for a weekend getaway at his luxurious house in the woods.

Initially, what seems like a fairytale romance story takes an abrupt turn after Noa uncovers Steve’s sinister plans. The film earned an impressive 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was well-received by the audience and critics. However, it also left viewers with a handful of unanswered questions — let's dive into them now.

Why Does Steve Choose Women's Meat Over Men's?

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In general, cannibalism — the consumption of human flesh — is regarded as a bizarre and heinous idea. In a shocking revelation to Noa, Steve reveals that he sells women’s meat to cater to his wealthy clients' desires. In addition, he claims that women "taste better," which is an absurd and sexist notion. Steve’s behavior towards women reflected his misogynistic and toxic side. He targets attractive young women, manipulates them in the name of love, locks them away in the dungeon, and brings them unimaginable horrors by mutilating their body parts.

Secondly, he likes his cannibalistic trade and has no regrets. He takes pleasure in this unpleasant activity, often seen enjoying and dancing while cutting and packing the meat. He is a walking red flag who thinks women are more compliant and on the weaker side. However, Noa transforms into a beacon of women's empowerment who strategically plans her escape, liberating her and the other girl from Steve’s clutches.

Steve thinks of himself as a supplier, fulfilling the cravings of his affluent clients for women’s flesh, which is hard to obtain. These clients seem to emerge from a male-dominated society that desires women’s flesh for self-satisfaction and will go to lengths to satisfy their twisted appetites.

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Was Steve the Only Supplier of Meat?

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The film disclosed Steve’s affiliation with a Satanist organization, but the identity of their leader remains unclear. However, it is likely a higher authority exists that oversees these nasty practices. Steve first tasted human flesh at the age of 19, which suggests that there must have been someone who introduced him to this horrifying concept. Initially, he reveals himself to be a plastic surgeon, raising the possibility of his cannibal roots coming from dark activities conducted within his occupation or in his family.

It becomes evident that he meets the demands of his high-end clients by providing them with fresh meat in exchange for hefty money. But he isn’t the sole supplier of meat in the market; there is a whole community dedicated to this macabre trade. Steve’s backstory reveals that he had a normal life with friends and family, yet he decided to choose this perilous path. Initially, the idea of cannibalism felt terrifying to him, but over time, he mastered the art of tricking women into dating and holding them hostage for meat.

Why Is Steve’s Wife Not One of His Victims?

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Despite being married to Ann and having children, Steve deceitfully presents himself as a charming single man whose real name is Brendan. Surprisingly, Ann is quite supportive of her husband and his cruel business. When Noa’s friend Mollie reaches out to inform her about her husband’s affair, she denies his wrongdoing. Later, it becomes evident that she was aware of her husband’s involvement in cannibalism. Further, Ann’s revelation of her prosthetic leg hints at her victimization as well.

It's weird to witness Ann becoming her husband’s accomplice and choosing to remain silent, despite once being a victim herself. But the question remains: why does she help her toxic husband instead of stopping him from doing such trades? There might be two reasons underlying her supportive nature. Firstly, she might be afraid to act up, keeping in mind Brendan's violent capabilities to hurt her and the kids. Secondly, she might have no family, and he is the only person she has in her life. Additionally, love could also be a reason for her to stand by him in every wrong move, even though he hardly takes out time for his family and is always busy serving his affluent clients.

Related: Real-life Lessons We’ve Learned From Hulu’s Fresh

Did Steve Love Noa?

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Yes, Steve did like Noa, and she was one of his favorite victims, following his wife Ann and Sami Akbari. When Noa attempted to escape his trap, he gave her punishment by removing her buttocks, leaving her helpless. Apart from all the horrors caused, he bestowed special attention on her, invited her to date, and gave her a beautiful dress too. A note inside a magazine given by Steve read, "If you're reading this, it means he likes you." This note proclaimed that he liked her.

While Steve had his favorites, he used to abandon the rest, showing a lack of humanity. Despite his affection, he still carried out mutilation without hesitation on his favorite victims. Sami Akbari’s absence from the whole movie implies that she might have been killed by Steve. During the end scene too, only Penny, Noa, and Mollie were present, highlighting his brutal actions toward his favored victims.

Steve interprets his idea of love as "It's about giving. Giving yourself to somebody. Becoming one with somebody else forever. And that's… that's a beautiful thing. That's surrender. That's love." Yet in reality, he is a serial killer with a narcissistic attitude, showing no mercy to his captive victims.

Fresh: Unanswered Questions in Sebastian Stan's 2022 Movie (2025)
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