Brand New Cherry Flavor

Brand New Cherry Flavor is an innovative and eccentric supernatural drama mini-series from Netflix that was released in 2021. The series, meticulously structured into eight episodes, is carved out of the 1996 horror novel of the same name penned by Todd Grimson. The series is co-created by Lenore Zion and Nick Antosca, the mastermind behind Hulu's acclaimed horror anthology series "Channel Zero".

With a title as unique as Brand New Cherry Flavor, it is not surprising that the series itself follows an unconventional narrative that wades through the murky waters of ambition, revenge, and supernatural intervention. Set in the early 90s in Los Angeles, the show delves into the atmospheric realm of film industry, where dreams and nightmares are seasoned with a touch of the mystical and the unknown.

The protagonist of the series is an ambitious young movie director named Lisa Nova, portrayed by Rosa Salazar. Lisa, actively seeking to break into Hollywood, is an embodiment of drive and resolve. However, as the plot unfurls, viewers see her world spiralling into a dark and twisted realm she had never fathomed. Lisa's journey from being an ambitious newcomer to transforming into a woman fuelled by revenge is what shapes the contours of this eerie narrative.

Salazar's performance is complemented by an equally dynamic ensemble cast that includes Catherine Keener, Eric Lange, Jeff Ward, and Manny Jacinto among others. Keener's character is particularly intriguing, adding a sinister edge with her portrayal of a mysterious tattoo artist with a seemingly deeper understanding of the supernatural world. Lange, as a cut-throat film producer, stands as another bulwark of Lisa's journey.

At one level, Brand New Cherry Flavor unravels as a unique exploration of the cut-throat world of Hollywood, while it concurrently ventures into the esoteric territory of curses, spurned passions, and strange occurrences. It is an uncanny concoction of reality infused with surrealism, escalating into a bizarre journey of loss, hope, dreams, and the lengths people will go to make a mark or seek revenge.

This series is an enigma that stands at the crossroads of horror, drama, and psychological thriller. It tragically and beautifully portrays the disquietude that seeks refuge behind the glitz and glamorous facade of the Hollywood screen. Serving an absorbing horror story that effectively tangles the real and unreal, Brand New Cherry Flavor is invigoratingly original in the exploration of its darkly humorous and borderline grotesque undertones.

Importantly, it's not just the narrative that manages to hold the intrigue but also the aesthetic treatment of the series. The cinematography and visual effects reiterate the undercurrents of fear and tension, embracing a palette that appropriately ranges from the mundane to the disorienting. The direction and performance work hand in glove with these technical aspects, weaving an eerie, captivating web that keeps viewers on the edge.

While downright terrifying at times, the show successfully employs elements of humor and satire that elevate the narrative beyond simplistic categorization. The series masterfully showcases how unchecked ambition can lead to a spiralling descent into a vortex of nightmares, making the viewers question the price paid for dreams to manifest into reality.

Brand New Cherry Flavor is perhaps for those viewers who don't shy away from experimentation with genres that twist conventional storytelling and treasure the abstract and the bizarre. It's a roller coaster involving supernatural elements, revenge narratives and Hollywood horror tropes, surprisingly wrapped up in a kind of acid trip-like state. The series serves as a potent cocktail of horror and drama with a generous splash of dark humor, that unfurls within the murky underbelly of Hollywood.

Overall, Brand New Cherry Flavor is a fresh perspective on a genre that is often saturated with recurring clichés. Much like its unique title, it brings to the table an unorthodox flavor that is remarkably offbeat and heavy with mystery, designed to keep you gripped and guessing. If navigating through the inscrutable labyrinth of dark humor, bizarre realities and haunting tension appeals to your taste, then this show might be just the ride you’re looking for.