‘Disturbing’ revenge thriller on Netflix is being rediscovered by viewers

The bizarre eight-episode series mixes revenge, witchcraft and 1990s Hollywood

Some Netflix thrillers are easy to overlook, only to resurface years later when viewers begin recommending them to one another. Brand New Cherry Flavor is one of them.

The eight-episode limited series first arrived in 2021, but viewers continue to discover its unusually dark blend of revenge, horror, witchcraft and Hollywood ambition. With a 76% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, the series has earned a solid critical response despite its deliberately strange and unsettling approach.

It is also very much an adult watch. Netflix classifies the series as horror and lists it as TV-MA in the US, while its premise quickly moves from a young filmmaker’s Hollywood ambitions into increasingly disturbing supernatural territory.

A Hollywood dream turns into a revenge nightmare

Brand New Cherry Flavor follows Lisa Nova, played by Rosa Salazar, a young filmmaker who heads to Hollywood in the early 1990s hoping to turn her short film into a feature.

Lisa gets the opportunity she has been looking for when producer Lou Burke, played by Eric Lange, takes an interest in her work. What initially appears to be her big break soon becomes something far more sinister.

After Lisa rejects Lou’s sexual advances, their professional relationship falls apart and she finds herself pushed out of the project. Rather than simply walking away, she decides to get revenge.

That decision leads her to Boro, an enigmatic woman played by Catherine Keener, and the two enter into a supernatural arrangement. From there, Lisa’s attempt to settle the score takes her into a bizarre world of magic, violence and increasingly disturbing consequences. Netflix describes the series as a journey through sex, magic, revenge and kittens.

The story is based on Todd Grimson’s 1996 novel and was created for television by Nick Antosca and Lenore Zion.

Rosa Salazar leads a seriously unusual cast

Salazar is at the centre of the series as Lisa Nova, bringing the character’s ambition and vulnerability to a story that becomes increasingly surreal.

Viewers may recognise her from American Horror Story, while she also played Brenda in the Maze Runner film series. Here, she is joined by Catherine Keener as Boro and Eric Lange as Lou Burke.

The supporting cast includes Manny Jacinto, known for The Good Place, and Jeff Ward, who appears as Roy Hardaway. Netflix also lists Hannah Levien, Patrick Fischler and others among the cast.

Keener’s performance as Boro is particularly important to the show’s strange tone. Boro is not simply there to help Lisa get revenge. Her presence pulls Lisa deeper into a world where the consequences of using supernatural forces become increasingly difficult to control.

Viewers say they were hooked

The series has developed a particularly strong following among viewers who enjoy horror that refuses to follow familiar rules.

One viewer praised the show after watching all eight episodes in a single day, saying they simply “couldn’t stop.”

Another offered a much simpler warning: “Don’t watch it with the kids.”

That reaction is understandable given the show’s adult themes, graphic horror and unsettling imagery. Netflix categorises it as horror and TV-MA in the US.

Other viewers have been drawn to the show’s unusual combination of elements.

One fan said the strangest aspect was also what initially attracted them, describing it as “so STRANGE” and praising its colourful visuals, acting, revenge storyline, witchcraft and 1990s Hollywood setting.

Another viewer compared the experience to being taken on a wild ride, admitting that some scenes left them wondering what they were watching while still finding it impossible to look away.

That viewer also described the series as occasionally over the top but ultimately worthwhile, praising the way it combines its strange and provocative elements.

A further fan went even further, comparing Brand New Cherry Flavor with Pulp Fiction and describing the Netflix series as something that “seriously blew my mind.”

The Pulp Fiction comparison is particularly fitting for viewers drawn to the show’s unconventional structure and unpredictable tone, although the series has a very different supernatural identity of its own.

Critics were divided, but the overall reception was positive

The series has not been universally loved. Its unusual mix of body horror, surrealism and revenge can make it a difficult watch, and some critics found its violence and approach excessive.

Even Rotten Tomatoes’ critics consensus acknowledges that the series will not appeal to everyone, while praising Rosa Salazar’s performance. The show currently has a 76% Tomatometer score from 38 critic reviews and a 77% audience score from more than 250 ratings on Rotten Tomatoes.

That split helps explain why the series has remained something of a cult recommendation rather than a conventional mainstream hit.

It occupies an unusual space between mystery thriller, horror and dark Hollywood drama. The premise starts with a familiar story about an aspiring filmmaker trying to make her movie, but the narrative gradually pushes that setup into much stranger territory.

Eight episodes make it an easy weekend binge

All eight episodes were released on Netflix on August 13, 2021, making the series straightforward to watch from beginning to end without waiting for new episodes.

The episodes include titles such as I Exist, Hair of the Dog, Roman Candle, Tadpole Smoothie, Jennifer, Milk Bath, Egg and Bodies. Netflix lists the series as a limited series, with episodes generally running for around 40 to 50 minutes.

The final episode, Bodies, follows Lisa as she tries to get answers after making plenty of enemies along the way, with the question of who will survive hanging over the story.

For anyone looking for something considerably stranger than a standard revenge thriller, that unusual premise is probably the biggest reason to give it a chance.

Just don’t expect a conventional Hollywood story.

Watch the official trailer

The official Netflix trailer describes the series as a journey through sex, magic, revenge and kittens, setting up the bizarre tone that defines the show.

Brand New Cherry Flavor is available to stream on Netflix.