The Search for Instagram’s Worst Con Artist (2023) – A Review

Netflix’s latest documentary on Belle Gibson takes a deep dive into one of the most infamous stories in influencer history. Belle Gibson became notorious for claiming she had cancer and that she was curing it through unconventional wellness practices and diet. The documentary tracks her rise to fame and reveals how she even developed an app with recipes to “fight” cancer, which was notably pre-installed on the launch of the Apple Watch. However, as the film makes clear—without giving too much away—Belle never actually had cancer. Instead, she exploited vulnerable people who were battling the disease for her own monetary gain and fame.

One thing that caught my attention was the decision to split the documentary into two episodes. In my view, the story of Belle Gibson would have flowed perfectly well as a single stand-alone special. Splitting it felt like a choice driven by an algorithm rather than a creative decision. The pacing sometimes suffers because the narrative is divided, and it occasionally feels like the filmmakers are forcing the content to fit into two parts.

There was a lot of potential in the film. The story itself is rich and full of jaw-dropping twists. Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we didn’t learn enough about Belle Gibson’s inner world. The interviews with her family members were a missed opportunity. I had hoped to gain deeper insight into what shaped her and how she came to be the con artist she is today. Instead, we got only surface-level theories about her motives, with no solid answers to the real “why” behind her actions.

I’ve also heard rumors that there might be more to the story than what the documentary lets on. Some say that the fallout from her fraudulent claims might have led to tragic consequences—rumors even suggest that some individuals may have forsaken proper medical treatment in favor of her holistic methods. These whispers add another layer of complexity that the documentary only touches on briefly. For a film that aims to expose such a massive deception, I expected a deeper investigation into these darker aspects.

Perhaps the wildest element of the documentary is its brief mention of Belle’s upbringing. At one point, the film states that her mother let her go live with an old man down the road when she was a young teen. This intriguing detail is mentioned almost in passing, with no further explanation. I couldn’t help but feel that this piece of her history deserved a more thorough exploration. How did this experience shape her? What was behind that decision? It’s one of the many unanswered questions that leaves viewers wanting more.

Overall, the documentary is a fascinating, if imperfect, look at the rise and fall of a modern-day con artist. It shines a light on the dark side of influencer culture and raises important questions about trust and authenticity in the digital age. Despite its missed opportunities for deeper insight, it remains a compelling watch for anyone curious about the story behind Belle Gibson.

Happy viewing, and feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

Should You Watch It?

There are far worse choices for what to watch, but there are much better ones too. If you’re on the fence, I’d skip this one.

VERDICT