Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Brand New Cherry Flavor, which took viewers on one of the most bizarre and unforgettable journeys through the dark underbelly of 1990s Hollywood.
Brand New Cherry Flavor premiered on Netflix on August 13, 2021, as a limited series consisting of 8 episodes with an average runtime of 43 minutes each. This American supernatural horror miniseries created by Nick Antosca and Lenore Zion is based on Todd Grimson’s novel and delivers a twisted tale that blends body horror, dark magic, and Hollywood satire into something completely unique.
Set in the early 1990s, Brand New Cherry Flavor follows young filmmaker Lisa Nova as she arrives in Los Angeles with dreams of making her directorial debut. What starts as a typical Hollywood story about exploitation and broken promises quickly transforms into a hallucinatory nightmare filled with witchcraft, revenge curses, and some of the most disturbing imagery ever put on screen. The series doesn’t just critique Hollywood’s predatory nature – it literalizes it through supernatural horror that will leave you both fascinated and deeply unsettled.
A Filmmaker’s Dream Becomes a Supernatural Nightmare
The plot centers on Lisa Nova, an aspiring director who catches the attention of sleazy producer Lou Burke with her short horror film. When Lou promises her the chance to direct a feature film, Lisa moves to Hollywood full of hope and ambition. However, after she rebuffs his sexual advances, Lou betrays her by stealing her project and removing her from the director’s chair.
What makes Brand New Cherry Flavor special is how it takes this all-too-familiar Hollywood story and pushes it into surreal territory. Rather than accepting defeat, Lisa turns to supernatural means for revenge, leading her down a rabbit hole of dark magic, mysterious witches, and body horror that would make David Cronenberg proud. The series uses its supernatural elements to explore themes of power, exploitation, and the lengths people will go to achieve their dreams in a city that devours innocence.
The show’s strength lies in how it balances genuine social commentary about Hollywood’s predatory culture with completely unhinged supernatural horror that keeps you guessing what twisted turn will come next.
Lisa Nova: From Naive Dreamer to Vengeful Sorceress
Rosa Salazar delivers a powerhouse performance as Lisa Nova, transforming from a wide-eyed filmmaker into someone willing to embrace dark magic for revenge. Lisa’s journey is both empowering and terrifying as she discovers inner strength she never knew she possessed, even as that power comes at a horrifying cost.
Throughout the series, we watch Lisa evolve from victim to predator, though the show cleverly questions whether her transformation represents true empowerment or just another form of corruption. Salazar captures both Lisa’s vulnerability and her growing ruthlessness, making her a protagonist you’re never quite sure you should be rooting for.
Lisa’s character development is enhanced by the show’s exploration of identity and bodily autonomy, as the supernatural elements often manifest through grotesque physical transformations that mirror her psychological journey from innocent outsider to Hollywood insider.
Lou Burke and Boro: The Faces of Hollywood Evil
Eric Lange brings slimy charisma to Lou Burke, the producer who represents everything toxic about Hollywood’s power dynamics. Lou isn’t just a villain – he’s a symbol of an industry that promises dreams while stealing souls, making him the perfect target for Lisa’s supernatural revenge.
The real scene-stealer, however, is Catherine Keener as Boro, the mysterious witch who becomes Lisa’s mentor in dark magic. Boro is seductive, dangerous, and utterly unpredictable, representing the kind of Faustian bargain that Hollywood itself offers to newcomers. The chemistry between Boro and Lisa crackles with tension as their relationship shifts between mentorship, seduction, and mutual manipulation.
What makes these characters compelling is how they represent different aspects of Hollywood’s corruption – Lou as the obvious predator and Boro as the more subtle tempter who offers power at an unimaginable price.
When Magic Meets Madness in the Final Acts
Without spoiling the increasingly bizarre revelations, Brand New Cherry Flavor builds to a climax that fully embraces its supernatural horror elements while delivering satisfying revenge against Hollywood’s worst impulses. The final episodes feature some of the most memorable and disturbing imagery in recent television, including sequences involving kittens, zombies, and body horror that pushes the boundaries of what streaming television can show.
The series doesn’t pull its punches in the final act, fully committing to its vision of Hollywood as a literal hellscape where magic and corruption intertwine. The resolution is both deeply satisfying as revenge fantasy and genuinely unsettling as horror, proving that sometimes the best way to critique toxic systems is through complete supernatural chaos.
The ending successfully ties together the various supernatural elements while providing emotional closure for Lisa’s journey, even as it leaves viewers questioning the true cost of revenge and success in Hollywood.
Success on Netflix
Brand New Cherry Flavor became a cult sensation on Netflix, praised for its unique blend of horror, satire, and social commentary. The limited series format allowed the creators to tell a complete story without overstaying their welcome, while the show’s distinctive visual style and unforgettable imagery made it perfect for social media discussion. Critics praised Rosa Salazar’s committed performance and the series’ willingness to fully embrace its bizarre premise without apology. The show’s success demonstrated Netflix’s commitment to original, boundary-pushing content and proved that audiences are hungry for horror that has something meaningful to say about contemporary culture.
Perfect Nightmare for Horror Fans Who Want Substance
If you love supernatural horror with sharp social commentary and aren’t afraid of some seriously disturbing imagery, Brand New Cherry Flavor is the perfect series to binge on Netflix. This twisted Hollywood satire delivers everything you want from prestige horror: intelligent writing, committed performances, and visuals that will haunt your dreams.
Why This Bizarre Horror Series Deserves Your Attention
Positive Points:
- Rosa Salazar delivers a fearless, transformative lead performance
- Brilliant blend of social commentary and supernatural horror elements
- Stunning cinematography and production design that creates an authentic 1990s atmosphere
- Genuinely unpredictable plot that subverts expectations at every turn
- Smart use of horror metaphors to explore real Hollywood power dynamics
Negative Points:
- Extremely disturbing imagery may be too intense for casual horror fans
- Some supernatural elements feel underdeveloped or confusing
- The pacing can feel uneven as it balances multiple genre elements
- Limited series format doesn’t allow for full exploration of all concepts
- Certain plot threads feel rushed in the final episodes
Brand New Cherry Flavor proves that the best horror comes from taking real-world fears and pushing them into supernatural territory where anything can happen.
Series Details
- Number of Episodes: 8 episodes (limited series)
- Platform: Netflix
- Release Year: 2021
- IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
- Genre: Supernatural Horror, Dark Comedy, Thriller
- Type of Production: American limited series
- Status: Completed (one season, concluded)
- Protagonists: Rosa Salazar (Lisa Nova), Catherine Keener (Boro)
- Antagonist: Eric Lange (Lou Burke)