The story of an Australian blogger who made money and gained popularity by pretending to have cancer is told in the Netflix series, which stars Kaitlyn Dever.
Netflix’s most recent scammer docudrama, “Apple Cider Vinegar,” is another scathing factual story that has been truncated for maximum binge-watching appeal.
However, this one is about two scams: the wellness sector in general and an Australian woman who is committing a cancer scam.
Belle Gibson, played by Kaitlyn Dever, became well-known as a food and cancer blogger.
Her story is interwoven with the stories of two other characters who do have cancer: Lucy (Tilda Cobham-Hervey), a breast cancer patient who is desperate for alternatives to the harshness of chemotherapy, and Milla (Alycia Debnam-Carey), Belle’s blogger idol who believes she can use juicing to cure her cancer and later her mother’s.
Most of the story takes place between 2009 and 2015, with confused timelines. Milla’s prognosis is indicated by the extent and gnarliness of the lesions on her arms, while Lucy’s condition deteriorates. In contrast, the condition of Belle’s veneers—the shinier and brighter, the more recent—tells her “journey.”
Although Belle’s grief started when she was in her teens, as a young mother, she began refining her cancer story on mommy message boards. “One of the worst things that can happen to a person happened to me!” she declares, lapping up each molecule of pity she can wring from others.’
It should go without saying that Kaitlyn Dever is fantastic in her portrayal of Belle Gibson in Apple Cider Vinegar. She is a rock star who will eventually win an Emmy and an Oscar, and Apple Cider Vinegar is just more evidence of that.
The series tells a story that is regrettably still all too relevant today, but Dever’s explosive performance should be enough to make you want to watch.
In addition to being similar to true crime shows like Inventing Anna in that it is compelling and somewhat obscene, the series also contains a heartbreaking undertone on the real possible effects of the wellness sector on cancer patients.
In terms of tone, the series has two sides, and both are powerful enough to keep viewers interested in Belle’s problems while also making them aware of the tragic reality.
Skip if you are sensitive to medical trauma
As amazing as Dever’s performance is, and as amusing as the show’s message is, viewers who are sensitive to medical trauma may find Apple Cider Vinegar upsetting.
The show doesn’t sugarcoat the reality that it’s about a person who misled her loved ones and the public about being diagnosed with terminal cancer. Her use of that untruth is unrepentant.
Additionally, some individuals in the series are dealing with true cancer diagnoses and treatments, and they don’t run away from the psychological and physical effects of those struggles.
Because of these factors, if you are not in a position to watch these kinds of storylines develop throughout six-hour episodes, proceed with caution before watching the series.
Some viewers may just leave their binge-watch feeling as though they have seen this type of limited series before, aside from the trigger warnings based on the show’s topic.
There are many episodes regarding scammers, the medical field, social media, and their numerous intersections; however, the situations may be different.
All things considered, Apple Cider Vinegar ought to be on your list of things to watch this weekend. The Netflix series has characters you either love or despise, and it unfolds like a good book you can’t put down.
Apple cider vinegar is on Netflix now.