"Apple Cider Vinegar" (2025) – Unmasking the Facade of Wellness Culture
"Apple Cider Vinegar" is a 2025 Australian limited series streaming on Netflix, created by Samantha Strauss. The series delves into the rise and fall of Belle Gibson, a wellness influencer who deceived her followers with false claims of curing terminal brain cancer through natural remedies. Drawing inspiration from the book "The Woman Who Fooled the World" by Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano, the show offers a critical examination of the wellness industry's darker facets and the perils of misinformation in the digital age.
Plot Overview
Set against the backdrop of the burgeoning social media landscape, "Apple Cider Vinegar" chronicles the journey of Belle Gibson (Kaitlyn Dever), an Australian wellness guru who amasses a massive online following by promoting alternative health remedies. Central to her brand is the claim that she cured her terminal brain cancer through dietary changes and holistic practices. As her influence grows, Belle launches a successful app and publishes a cookbook, positioning herself as a beacon of hope for those seeking natural cures.
Parallel to Belle's narrative is the story of Milla Blake (Alycia Debnam-Carey), a young woman inspired by Belle's journey. Milla convinces her mother, Tamara (Susie Porter), to abandon conventional medical treatments in favor of alternative therapies. This decision leads them down a precarious path, highlighting the real-world consequences of misinformation.
As investigative journalists and skeptical followers begin to question the veracity of Belle's claims, her empire starts to crumble. The series meticulously unravels the layers of deceit, exploring the impact of Belle's actions on her followers, her personal relationships, and the broader wellness community.
Character Analysis and Performances
Kaitlyn Dever as Belle Gibson: Dever delivers a compelling portrayal of Belle, capturing the character's charisma and manipulative prowess. Her nuanced performance oscillates between genuine empathy and calculated deceit, offering viewers a window into the complexities of a con artist's psyche. Dever's embodiment of Belle showcases her ability to charm and manipulate, making her downfall both inevitable and riveting.
Alycia Debnam-Carey as Milla Blake: Debnam-Carey brings depth to Milla, a character inspired by real-life wellness blogger Jessica Ainscough. Her portrayal captures the vulnerability and determination of someone desperate for healing, even at the cost of embracing unverified treatments. The chemistry between Debnam-Carey and Susie Porter, who plays her mother Tamara, adds emotional weight to their storyline, emphasizing the familial tensions that arise from divergent beliefs about health and medicine.
Aisha Dee as Chanelle McAuliffe: Dee shines as Chanelle, Belle's loyal assistant and Milla's friend. Her character serves as a bridge between the two protagonists, embodying the internal conflict of supporting a friend while grappling with emerging doubts about the authenticity of Belle's claims. Dee's performance adds layers to the narrative, highlighting the moral dilemmas faced by those in Belle's inner circle.
Tilda Cobham-Hervey as Lucy: Portraying a cancer patient and ardent follower of Belle, Cobham-Hervey delivers a heart-wrenching performance. Her character's journey underscores the devastating consequences of misplaced trust in unverified medical claims, serving as a poignant reminder of the real-world stakes involved.
Mark Coles Smith as Justin Guthrie: As Lucy's husband, Smith portrays a man torn between supporting his wife's choices and his skepticism about alternative treatments. His grounded performance provides a counterbalance to the fervent beliefs of other characters, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and evidence-based medicine.
Ashley Zukerman as Clive: Zukerman plays Clive, Belle's partner, whose unwavering support becomes strained as cracks in Belle's narrative begin to surface. His portrayal captures the turmoil of loving someone entangled in a web of lies, adding depth to the personal ramifications of Belle's deceit.
Susie Porter as Tamara: Porter delivers a powerful performance as Milla's mother, Tamara. Her character's journey from hope to despair serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of eschewing conventional medical treatments in favor of unproven alternatives.
Essie Davis as Natalie: Davis portrays Belle's mother, Natalie, offering insights into Belle's upbringing and potential motivations. Her nuanced performance hints at the complexities of their relationship, shedding light on the familial dynamics that may have influenced Belle's actions.
Direction and Writing
Under the direction of Jeffrey Walker, "Apple Cider Vinegar" maintains a cohesive narrative that seamlessly intertwines multiple storylines. Walker adeptly balances the personal and public facets of the characters' lives, ensuring that the series remains engaging and thought-provoking. His direction emphasizes the seductive allure of social media fame and the ease with which misinformation can proliferate in the digital age.
The writing team, led by creator Samantha Strauss alongside Anya Beyersdorf and Angela Betzien, crafts a script that is both incisive and empathetic. The dialogue captures the persuasive rhetoric often employed by wellness influencers, while also highlighting the internal conflicts faced by individuals ensnared in their own fabrications. The writers delve into the psychological underpinnings of deception, exploring how personal insecurities and societal pressures can culminate in elaborate falsehoods.
Themes and Social Commentary
"Apple Cider Vinegar" serves as a scathing critique of the wellness industry's commodification and the perils of unchecked social media influence. The series underscores how easily charismatic individuals can exploit public trust, especially when they offer hope in the face of fear and uncertainty. By juxtaposing Belle's fabricated journey with Milla's genuine struggles, the show highlights the tangible consequences of disseminating false health information.
The series also delves into the psychology of belief, examining why individuals are drawn to alternative therapies and the cognitive dissonance that arises when confronted with contradictory evidence.
I'd give Apple Cider Vinegar 4 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆.
It’s a gripping, well-acted, and socially relevant series that effectively critiques the dangers of misinformation in the wellness industry. The performances, particularly from Kaitlyn Dever and Alycia Debnam-Carey, are compelling, and the writing is sharp. However, the pacing can feel slow in some episodes, and certain side characters could have been developed further.
Overall, it's a must-watch for those interested in true-story-inspired dramas, social media culture, and psychological thrillers.
