Netflix’s newest Australian limited series, Apple Cider Vinegar, thoroughly investigates the many lies of wellness influencer Belle Gibson. Based on the true story of Gibson faking cancer diagnoses and creating food recipes that “cure” diseases, this show is chaotic from start to finish. The somewhat truish depiction of Gibson’s personal life will quickly draw you in and leave you questioning how she got away with her health scams.
Not only does the show follow Gibson, but also the people she worked with. For instance, the character Milla Blake (Alycia Debnam-Carey) is based on real-life alternative medicine blogger Jessica Ainscough, who suffered from cancer. In the show, she’s depicted as Gibson’s nemesis, mentor, and competitor, adding fake beef to the madness. Beginning with a disclaimer that the show fictionalized real-life people and events, it’s clear that Netflix learned its lesson from the backlash of ‘Baby Reindeer.’
In addition to its exaggerated drama, the cinematography is breathtaking. Set in the 2010s, the oversaturated lighting accurately reflects the era’s neon aesthetic. However, the pacing of the six one-hour-long episodes is a major flaw. The fast-paced storyline jumps between timelines abruptly, making the show hard to follow and process at times. Notably, the characters breaking the fourth wall to explain their questionable choices adds a layer of vulnerability.
The choice of music from the 2000s and 2010s era was also a nice touch, with some scenes featuring “Toxic” by Britney Spears, “Feel So Close” by Calvin Harris, “Brave” by Sara Bareilles, and more. Adding those songs was nostalgic, effortlessly placing the viewer back in those eras.
This show not only delivers nostalgia but also boldly showcases the dopamine rush of being on social media and how harmful it can become for families. Throughout the show, Gibson is so distracted by likes and comments that she ignores her son’s needs, leading him to act out. With the rise of technology, she becomes way too eager to capitalize on the attention she receives and gain wealth to support her son financially.
Humanizing Belle Gibson
Kaitlyn Dever did an outstanding job portraying Gibson as a fleshed-out villain, offering a wide range of authentic emotions. Since Gibson is inconsiderate and selfish, there are a lot of moments where she gaslights, love bombs, fakes illnesses, and cries to get out of trouble. For example, when Gibson meets a sick child who regularly has seizures, she fakes a seizure at her son’s birthday party after being put on blast for lying. Dever acts so naturally in these moments, making them look real on screen.
The constant enabling of Gibson’s manipulative behavior also makes this show frustrating to sit through. Most of the characters close to her are unlikeable, as they initially act oblivious and later become obsessively vengeful once her lies start affecting them. Instead of immediately calling Belle out on her deceitful ways, they play along and wait until the last minute to confront her. Her partner Clive (Ashley Zukerman) and assistant Chanelle (Aisha Dee) try to intervene and encourage her to seek professional help, but they easily fall for her tactics and back off when she throws a tantrum.
Although Gibson was a temperamental fraud, there are moments when you can’t help but sympathize with her. For example, in Episode 6, she attends Milla’s funeral, and when she’s kicked out for snooping in her bedroom, she says, “She was so lucky to be so loved.” This moment hints at the possibility that Gibson felt lonely throughout her childhood and craved attention, which may have driven her to mislead others for fame.
Yet, amid the sadness, the show weaves in cheeky humor through the on-screen commentary. After reenacting Gibson’s infamous 60 Minutes interview, viewers are hit with a message advising them to Google what happened to her. A quick search revealed that she didn’t go to prison but was found guilty of being “misleading” and “deceptive” in her claims of curing cancer with natural remedies. She also faces a fine of 410,000 Australian dollars that she has yet to pay back. As for her cancer diagnosis, there are still no medical records to support her claims.
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