Brand New Cherry Flavor – Netflix Review

BRAND NEW CHERRY FLAVOR on Netflix is a new mini-series in the horror, drama, and mystery genres. It’s intense, crazy and an absolute mindf*ck. Oh yeah, I was a fan immediately. Read our full Brand New Cherry Flavor series review here!

BRAND NEW CHERRY FLAVOR is a new Netflix limited series. The genre hybrid (horror, drama, mystery) probably won’t be for everyone, but genre fans should be pretty happy with this crazy mindf*ck of a series.

It’s described as Drag Me to Hell (Sam Raimi) meets Mullholland Drive (David Lynch) and that’s surprisingly accurate. Both movies are great references for this new Netflix series. What makes it all come together so brilliantly is the cast – especially Rose Salazar who stars as Lisa Nova!

Continue reading our Brand New Cherry Flavor series review below.

So many kittens!

As mentioned above, Brand New Cherry Flavor has a brilliant cast to breathe life into this crazy story. And yes, the story is pretty damn crazy at times.

However, and this is important, it never goes completely off the rails. Whenever an episode ends on some crazy note (and they tend to do that), you can be certain that the very next episode will keep everything in check for you as the viewer.

And yes, there are many kittens throughout this limited Netflix series. I won’t say more about the kittens here to avoid giving spoilers. Just know that little white kittens and Brand New Cherry Flavor is forever coupled in my mind.

The kittens combined with the “animal harm” warning to accompany the rating, made me pretty nervous for a long time (look at my profile to understand why). However, animal harm isn’t really the point of any scenes. In fact, humans being harmed is much more of a point.

Brilliant character actors

While Rose Salazar (Alita: Battle Angel, Bird box) is absolutely amazing as Lisa Nova (how’s that for a Hollywood name, but the way), she is also joined by a cast full of strong character actors. Still, even in scenes where we only see Rose Salazar, she is pure magic on that screen!

Alongside Lisa Nova (Rose Salazar) the most important characters for this story are Boro (Catherine Keener) and Lou Burke (Eric Lange). Boro is essentially a witch (there’s that Drag Me to Hell reference) and Lou Burke is a Hollywood producer (and there’s Mullholland Drive).

Catherine Keener (Get Out) and Eric Lange (Antebellum) deliver such amazing performances that it would be a shame if they aren’t both nominated for a whole lot of awards. Both are grossly underrated and have been for years, but TV series especially are changing that.

Watch all 8 episodes of Brand New Cherry Flavor on Netflix!

Brand New Cherry Flavor was created by Nick Antosca and Lenore Zion. Nick Antosca also created the Channel Zero series – which you’ll recognize in many ways if you watched it – as well as The Act and writing episodes of Hannibal.

Lenore Zion has been writing for Channel Zero and Ray Donovan and has another TV series coming out soon. The Son starring Jake Gyllenhaal and directed by Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Blade Runner: 2049) based on the book by Jo Nesbø (The Snowman). Currently in pre-production.

The directors of the eight episodes in this limited series are Gandja Monteiro (Panic), Jake Schreier (Robot & Frank), Matt Sobel (currently filming the Goodnight Mommy remake), Arkasha Stevenson (Channel Zero), and creator Nick Antosca.

Fair warning: This story goes places you probably would never expect. Something I love because it never feels forced and to simply gross-out or shock. Instead, it’s part of the crazy world where this story plays out.

Brand New Cherry Flavor is out on Netflix from August 13, 2021 (perfect for this Friday the 13th).

Details

Cast: Rosa Salazar, Catherine Keener, Eric Lange, Jeff Ward, Manny Jacinto