APPLE CIDER VINEGAR on Netflix is a new miniseries about fraud. It gets extremely dark as it focuses on how health influencers can make people sick. Belle Gibson of “The Whole Pantry” is at the center of this story which features an amazing cast. Read our full Apple Cider Vinegar series review here!
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR is a new Netflix limited series. It’s a crime, drama, biographical series about Belle Gibson who committed fraud in many ways. The series focuses on alternative health influencers. Some of them mean well while others know very well that they’re over-selling their product of choice.
It’s a very dangerous business for those on the receiving end. You risk going bankrupt and becoming even more sick. However, this isn’t a one-sided jab at health alternatives to traditional medicine. But there’s a time and place for either. Over the six episodes in this miniseries, we see how badly it can turn out.
Continue reading our Apple Cider Vinegar series review below. Find it on Netflix from February 6, 2025
A true story based on a lie
Apple Cider Vinegar takes place just as Instagram is becoming the social media for influencers. This was also when influencers became an actual business platform for those who accumulated enough followers. While the story in this Netflix series is based on a completely true story, it does take some liberties.
As is always the case with any fictionalized take on true crime cases. However, be warned, a lot of the very worst moments and actions of Belle Gibson are completely true.
In Apple Cider Vinegar, we follow two young women – Belle Gibson (Kaitlyn Dever) and Milla Blake (Alycia Debnam-Carey) – who have careers influencing their global online communities. Their product? They want to cure life-threatening illnesses through health and wellness.
Mostly via food and juice diets along with enemas. Well, the latter is mostly one of them.
For both young women, it all begins when they set out to cure their own life-threatening illnesses when they’re diagnosed with cancer. Each decides not to go down the traditional road of poisonous chemotherapy and radiation or surgery.
Of course, there is one glaring difference between the two; Belle Gibson never had cancer!

Amazing casting and a gorgeous vibe
What makes Apple Cider Vinegar work so extremely well is its approach to telling the story. It’s not just a take-down of these two young women, each working and hustling to make a name for themselves. One of them actually does fight cancer and believes wholeheartedly in her own products.
The other one does not!
This story is mostly about the latter. She was the person who lied and committed fraud in extreme ways. She got high on the attention and love of a community of people who believed she was helping them. In reality, she was a brilliant entrepreneur, who cared more about being adored and “winning” than actually helping.
“Münchhausen Syndrome” is mentioned early on, and I tend to believe this is probably true for Belle Gibson.
I loved how in each episode, we hear someone new give the whole “This is a true story based on a lie”. Also, it’s mentioned that Belle Gibson is not being paid. The way this story is presented directly to you, the viewer, like when an influencer is speaking to their followers is simply brilliant to me.
Also, there’s a trio leading this series in various ways. It consists of Kaitlyn Dever (Unbelievable, No One Will Save You), Alycia Debnam-Carey (The 100, Fear the Walking Dead, Saint X), and Aisha Dee (Sissy). These three are absolutely amazing in their respective roles.
Wonderful supporting cast
Other key roles are portrayed by Phoenix Raei (The Night Agent, Clickbait) and Catherine McClements (Pieces of Her). Overall, there are so many wonderful Australian actors in this cast.
This includes Mark Coles Smith (The Clearing) as the investigative journalist, Justin, looking into Belle Gibson. Also, Tilda Cobham-Hervey (The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart) as his beloved wife Lucy, who has cancer. She follows Belle’s advice rather than that of her doctor, which terrifies Justin.
I’m oversimplifying, but you’ll see.
Ashley Zukerman (City on Fire, the 2021 Fear Street trilogy) portrays Owen, the partner of Belle Gibson, who just wants to be her savior. Instead, he becomes the best parent her son could dream of. Essie Davis (The Babadook) is Natalie, the very unlikable mother of Belle Gibson.
As the kind and loving mother of Milla Blake, Tamara, we see Susie Porter (Cargo) deliver a powerful performance. Her husband, Arlo, is played by Chai Hansen (Night Sky), and her father, Joe, is portrayed by Matt Nable (The Dry).
Overall, you feel the love in this family and all the pain of Belle Gibson’s which does explain quite a bit.
Watch Apple Cider Vinegar on Netflix
Samantha Strauss is the creator of this series, which was directed by Jeffrey Walker (The Clearing, Modern Family). It’s based on the book “The Woman Who Fooled the World” by Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano. Writers on the series are creator Samantha Strauss (Nine Perfect Strangers), Anya Beyersdorf (The Twelve), and Angela Betzien (Total Control).
WANT TO READ THE BOOK ABOUT BELLE GIBSON?
So much of the story in Apple Cider Vinegar should be inspiring – and it would be if it were all true. Instead, it gets extremely dark as it focuses on how health influencers can make people sick. I loved the cast, the vibe, and the storytelling. Also, yes, the title does get explained, but not until the later episodes.
Sure, there are some chronological elements that work best if you binge-watch, but this is very binge-worthy, so I would simply recommend you watch all six episodes as quickly as possible. Afterward, be sure to Google Bell Gibson and maybe look up that 60 Minutes interview to see just how great Kaitlyn Dever is – find a clip here.
Be warned that Apple Cider Vinegar is not a feel-good series. In fact, you’ll often feel bad. Especially when Appel Cider Vinegar highlights that all of these health businesses are just that; A Business. No matter how cute the product or how kind the person might be, you still have to open your wallet to participate.
Apple Cider Vinegar is out on Netflix from February 6, 2025.
Details
Creator: Samantha Strauss
Director: Jeffrey Walker
Writers: Samantha Strauss, Anya Beyersdorf, Angela Betzien
Cast: Kaitlyn Dever, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Aisha Dee, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Ashley Zukerman, Mark Coles Smith
Plot
Two young women advocate for wellness remedies to cure deadly illnesses, unraveling their lives as they unknowingly — and knowingly — mislead the world.
Watch a quick clip with the real Belle Gibson here…
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