TV REVIEW: Netflix Scammer Series Apple Cider Vinegar Boast With Style But No So Much Substance

Netflix Apple Cider Vinegar is yet another one of those series or movies I wouldn’t have learned from hadn’t been for a friend -Netflix terrible marketing is a given by this point- and based on a story I had never heard before.

It’s insane, yet makes sense, the lengths to which individuals will go when confronted with adversity, particularly when it involves life-threatening situations. Except for one, two of our three main stories resonated with me due to their somewhat tragic nature, each for different reasons. It’s truly disheartening on so many levels that Belle walked out free. Dever delivered a strong performance as this iteration of Gibson, embodying a character that oscillates between a sociopathic, mustache-twirling villain and moments of vulnerability. The picnic scene briefly evoked pity, only to be overshadowed by the reminder of her character’s deep-seated demons and unaddressed illness, which found fertile ground to take root and flourish. Alycia’s character was also great to follow; her entire story arc was ultimately so moving as we see the consequences that comes with seeking for other (unorthodox) options that provide us with this sense of control when this seems to escape us. The rest of the cast were great in their respective roles. Cobham-Hervey’s Lucy share some resemblance with Mila, though through her we see more of the psychological affliction patience have to deal with as they cope with the fact in any time they may not make it out another day. That scene in the forest was actually pretty cathartic and Tilda does a great job conveying much of this.

While it excels in the acting division, everything else is somewhat uneven. I liked the “Danny Boyle” style of filmmaking with seemingly high rate, very loose, handheld camerawork and quick editing. The series gains a lot of energy from it and the really catchy soundtrack. The cinematography was also consistently stunning. All great in terms of the visuals and sound. However where Apple Cider Vinegar flactuates for me -and apparently many others– was in its writing and its creative decision of also play loose with its narrative, jumping back and forth between all the flashbacks -especially in the first four episodes or so- truly made for a very muddled and really exhausting watching experience that ruined a lot of the fun. On top of that, I feel this could have been shorter, it became a little redundant after a while. Luckily the last two episodes salvage the show as it hits a crescendo with everything and everyone coming together and/or falling apart. That scene with Gibson in the funeral was crazy and the fact I believe something like that might have happened speaks volume about Gibson’s, or at least the way she’s portrayed here.

At the end of the day, I’d say Apple Cider Vinegar may worth a shot for its performances alone and its story. Everyone clearly weren’t phoning it in and provided perhaps some of their best work to date, namely Kaitlyn Dever. Visually it has very little to no flaws – ok, perhaps it does if you aren’t fan of its style, which wasn’t my case. However, its stunning presentation and great acting, i wished the same care was put into the narrative, at least play it safer with its narrative structure.