TheMovieSearch R
Apple Cider Vinegar, the Netflix limited series about a woman who fakes cancer to gain sympathy and financial success, is one of those shows that tries to balance true-crime shock value with emotional drama — and ends up doing neither convincingly. Based on a true story, the series chronicles the rise and fall of a con artist who builds a self-care empire on lies, manipulating desperate and vulnerable people into believing she holds the key to their healing. The premise is disturbing, but also fascinating — a reflection on how social media, marketing, and emotional vulnerability collide in modern culture. Unfortunately, while the story’s foundation is strong, the execution leaves much to be desired.
The most shocking thing about Apple Cider Vinegar isn’t just its subject matter — it’s the idea that this actually happened. Knowing that real people were manipulated, that terminally ill patients were exploited for profit, gives the show an unsettling weight. It’s the kind of story that should hit hard and stay with you. But somehow, it doesn’t. Instead of letting the horror of the deception speak for itself, the series spends too much time indulging in drawn-out dialogue and filler moments that dilute its emotional core. What could’ve been a gut-punching story of greed and moral collapse ends up feeling like a slow, lukewarm retelling.
The acting is fine, even occasionally quite good. The cast does what they can with what they’re given, and some of the supporting performances help ground the series when the script starts to drift. But the lead performance — while technically strong — struggles to find nuance. The main character is written in such a one-dimensional way that she feels less like a real person and more like a caricature of a manipulator. There’s little room for complexity, no glimpse into what drives her beyond surface-level greed, and that leaves the emotional impact hollow.
The biggest flaw lies in the screenplay. It’s bogged down by unnecessary exposition and overly long scenes that drain momentum. For a show that’s supposed to be about lies, tension, and manipulation, it’s surprisingly dull. Conversations drag on without revealing anything new, and the pacing suffers from repetitive setups and resolutions that go nowhere. By the midpoint of the season, it becomes a chore to keep watching — not because the subject matter is uncomfortable, but because the storytelling itself feels lifeless.
Visually, the series is competently made. There’s a polished, muted aesthetic that fits the tone, and the cinematography occasionally captures the emptiness of influencer culture with a sterile, artificial glow. But that visual effort doesn’t save the overall experience. Each episode feels longer than it should, and while the direction aims for slow-burn realism, it often crosses into monotony. Even the music and editing choices contribute to the fatigue, underscoring how much more effective the show could have been with sharper pacing and a more focused narrative.
Ultimately, Apple Cider Vinegar ends up being more frustrating than fascinating. It has all the right ingredients — a shocking real-life story, timely social commentary, and a cast capable of selling the drama — but it never blends them together into something cohesive. The emotional payoff is missing, the tension never fully builds, and the dialogue-heavy script drains any momentum the story might’ve had. While some may find its slow, reflective tone appealing, many viewers will likely feel the same exhaustion — a sense of waiting for something that never really comes.
In the end, it’s hard to recommend Apple Cider Vinegar. It’s not terrible, but it’s painfully slow and strangely disengaging. For a story rooted in deception, greed, and the exploitation of human suffering, it lacks the punch and purpose it should have had. You’ll leave the show thinking less about the message and more about how long it took to get there — and for a series with this much potential, that’s a real shame.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
10/19/25
Full Review
Dani G
Kaitlyn Dever is like the queen of miniseries. She has specialized in it
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
09/13/25
Full Review
Kleber d
Atuações Marcantes e Reflexões Contemporâneas
Vinagre de Maçã é uma série que impressiona em diversos aspectos, mas não sem suas falhas. As atuações de Katlyn Denver (Belle) e Alycia Debnam-Carey (Milla) são impecáveis, transmitindo uma gama de emoções que cativam e, ao mesmo tempo, provocam desconforto. É quase impossível assistir sem sentir raiva das escolhas questionáveis das protagonistas, o que reforça a humanidade complexa de seus personagens.
A edição é outro acerto, com uma trilha sonora bem escolhida e uso de câmeras que amplifica a narrativa. No entanto, a montagem tropeça ao tentar manipular as linhas do tempo, resultando em transições que podem confundir o espectador. O maior problema, porém, está no roteiro. Por se basear em uma história real, a série tem limitações para fugir dos eventos verídicos, mas peca na escolha do que abordar. Alguns episódios sofrem com momentos desnecessários, como as repetidas cenas que destacam o narcisismo de Belle. Essa redundância, usada para escalonar a gravidade de seu comportamento, é desnecessária, já que o traço fica evidente logo no início.
O último episódio, por sua vez, acelera o ritmo de forma abrupta, entregando uma resolução que parece superficial e um tanto decepcionante. Outro desafio é a dificuldade em criar empatia pelos personagens. Tanto Belle quanto Milla despertam mais revolta do que conexão, reforçando a ausência de heroínas tradicionais e destacando suas falhas humanas. Enquanto Milla encontra alguma redenção no penúltimo episódio, Belle deixa um gosto amargo de injustiça.
Apesar disso, Vinagre de Maçã brilha ao explorar um tema contemporâneo: a influência das redes sociais e os perigos de permitirmos que personalidades digitais moldem nossas vidas. Com atuações marcantes das protagonistas, uma edição sólida e um roteiro que, embora imperfeito, aborda questões relevantes, a minissérie é uma obra válida e provocadora, que nos alerta para os riscos de um mundo hiperconectado.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
07/19/25
Full Review
Gareth v
An entertaining enough telling of the Belle Gibson saga that is overly melodramatic at times, and with that lacks the emotional gut-punch it's hoping to deliver.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
07/09/25
Full Review
Stephen C
6 successful episodes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
06/04/25
Full Review
Eva B
It was good and the actresses were great but it should have been less episodes or at least smaller episodes.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
05/18/25
Full Review
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