![]() A character from Lisa’s past returns in a subplot clearly designed to bring to mind “Saint Joan” and Jean Seberg (and the on-set trauma) for movie fans. “Brand New Cherry Flavor” is almost impossible to adequately describe in narrative terms. Manny Jacinto, having a great month with this and “Nine Perfect Strangers” co-stars, and then the great character actor Patrick Fischler shows up later in the season to remind viewers even more of one of Lynch’s masterpieces. Lisa turns to a mysterious figure named Boro ( Catherine Keener) to get revenge, and then things get really weird. Before she gets the chance, she’s beset upon by a predator named Lou Burke ( Eric Lange), a power player who promises to make her dreams come true but ends up being truly evil. The increasingly great Salazar (“Undone,” “ Alita: Battle Angel”) does the best work yet of her career as Lisa Nova, a young filmmaker who has come to Los Angeles with dreams of bringing her visions to life. 13 on Netflix.Co-creator Nick Antosca (with Lenore Zion) knows a thing or two about weird TV, having delivered on of the most underrated horror programs of the 2010s in “Channel Zero.” He brings that show’s energy to some of “Brand New Cherry Flavor,” a show based on the novel of the same name by Todd Grimson that will never offer an explanation for its title. But as the macabre and just plain odd moments pile up, it’s pretty clear that this is one of those made-to-binge brews that’s the streaming-TV equivalent of empty calories. The flavor certainly has bite, and for some, that’ll be enough. Those shadows, alas, become the real impetus behind “Brand New Cherry Flavor,” which seems more preoccupied with delivering shocks and emulating David Lynch’s filmography than disgorging its secrets. ![]() It’s a bit of a shame, since Salazar proves a fine lead as the wide-eyed newcomer, experiencing the entertainment industry and its most unsavory tics before the #MeToo movement, when sexism, misogyny and unvarnished greed didn’t need to hide in the shadows. ![]() The result oozes atmosphere, but it’s a sugary high without much substance. Yet as is frequently the case with such fare, the destination doesn’t justify the trip, which is filled with unsettling and occasionally gruesome imagery that begins to feel as if it’s more the point of the story than a means of telling it. What happens after that shouldn’t be spoiled and probably couldn’t be, but the weird detours include Lisa’s absent mother, zombies, what really happened during the making of the short, and Lisa meeting a rising actor (Jeff Ward) who takes an interest in the film and her, but might have entered into a situation – and indeed a hidden world – that’s clearly over his head.įor the first few episodes, the series – adapted by Nick Antosca and Lenore Zion (“Channel Zero”) – effectively pulls the audience along, so strange and creepy it’s hard not to be curious about who Lisa is, what’s unique about her and where all of this might be heading. The two wind up at odds over Burke’s false promises, but Lisa quickly encounters the mysterious Boro (Catherine Keener), who keeps telling her how special she is while promising her the opportunity to regain control over her creation – and exact a measure of revenge. The horror-themed project has caught the eye of an aging producer, Lou Burke (Eric Lange), although as always in Hollywood, only a fool trusts the big talk thrown around at pitch meetings. Otherwise, this bizarre Netflix drama will likely be an acquired taste, mashing up bad-old Hollywood with the supernatural, witchcraft and kittens, not always in that order.īased on Todd Grimson’s novel and set in the early 1990s, the series focuses on a young filmmaker named Lisa Nova ( “Alita: Battle Angel’s” Rosa Salazar, easily the best thing about the show) who comes to town to try developing her short film into a movie. If you’re the type who enjoys consuming an eight-episode limited series and thinking “What the heck did I just watch?” when it’s over, “Brand New Cherry Flavor” might be for you.
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