Fresh

The events occur in modern times, reflecting online dating culture, smartphones, and social media. The plot uses current dating rituals to build suspense as Noa's date turns deadly. The tone conveys a contemporary urban nightmare.

Noa is from Portland, and the story unfolds across urban locations in the city, including a supermarket encounter and a luxury home where the captor lures victims. The setting emphasizes a contemporary, real-world backdrop that contrasts with the horror of the captor's game. Scenes shift between Noa's city life and the secluded confinement at Steve's residence.

🕷️ Dangerous dating

Online dating is depicted as a minefield where charm can mask danger. Noa's initial attraction to Steve masks a predatory pattern that culminates in captivity. The film uses this dynamic to explore how easily trust can be weaponized in the digital age. Brendan/Steve’s manipulation reveals a critique of appearances versus violence.

💪 Resilience

Noa refuses to surrender, turning survival into an active strategy. She forms alliances with Penny and Mollie, and uses deceptive tactics to escape. The escape sequences highlight courage, quick thinking, and self-preservation in extreme circumstances. The film frames resilience as a communal effort, not just an individual feat.

⚖️ Power and control

Brendan/Steve wields wealth, social status, and violence to dominate others, creating a chilling imbalance between captor and captives. The pursuit of control is portrayed through elaborate concealment, manipulation, and force. The narrative critiques how privilege can enable brutal appetite and impunity. Escape becomes a rejection of the power structures built around the predator.

🍽️ Cannibalism critique

The film uses meat harvesting as a metaphor for commodifying bodies and the appetites of the privileged. The gross-out elements serve to heighten tension while underscoring moral questions about exploitation. It’s less about gore and more about the horror of turning people into products. The mid-credits scene hints at a broader network of patrons feeding on similar violence.