Disclaimer (2024): A Riveting Psychological Thriller by Alfonso Cuarón
What Is Disclaimer?
Disclaimer is a British–American psychological thriller miniseries created, written, and directed by Alfonso Cuarón, well-known for his celebrated films like Gravity and Roma sv.wikipedia.orgWhat to Watch. The series premiered on Apple TV+ on October 11, 2024, and spans seven episodes sv.wikipedia.orgWhat to Watch.
Plot Overview
At the heart of Disclaimer is Catherine Ravenscroft, a renowned TV documentary journalist whose career has been founded on exposing powerful institutions’ flaws. Her world is turned upside down when she finds a novel on her bedside table—The Perfect Stranger—portraying a traumatic, deeply personal event from her past that she believed was buried forever IMDbWhat to Watch.
As the narrative unfolds, Catherine scrambles to uncover the mysterious author and grapples with mounting secrets that threaten her family, reputation, and sanity IMDbWhat to Watch.
Cast, Crew & Production
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Creator & Director: Alfonso Cuarón IMDbsv.wikipedia.org
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Based on: Disclaimer by Renée Knight What to WatchIMDb
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Main Cast:
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Cate Blanchett as Catherine Ravenscroft
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Kevin Kline as Stephen Brigstocke (the widower author)
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Sacha Baron Cohen as Robert Ravenscroft (Catherine's husband)
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Kodi Smit-McPhee as Nicholas Ravenscroft (their son)
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Lesley Manville, Louis Partridge, Leila George, Indira Varma, and others rounding out the ensemble IMDb+1What to Watch.
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Cate Blanchett contributed significantly behind the scenes, collaborating closely with Cuarón, and even helping cast Kevin Kline in the pivotal role IMDb.
Filming locations included a range of evocative settings: Cape Town, South Africa (studio & sea scenes), Tuscany (Italy), Venice railway station, and various London locales IMDb.
Episode Structure
The miniseries unfolds across seven episodes, each titled with Roman numerals from I to VII, aired between October 11 and November 8, 2024 IMDb. Sample episode titles and ratings include:
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I ("I") – Oct 11, 2024 – IMDb rating ~7.2
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IV ("I wanted him to die") – Oct 18, 2024 – IMDb rating ~7.9
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VII ("It’s time for my voice to be heard") – Nov 8, 2024 – IMDb rating ~8.1 IMDb.
Critical Reception & Visual Style
Reviews praised the series' stunning cinematography, courtesy of award-winning collaborators Bruno Delbonnel and Emmanuel Lubezki, which layered visual elegance onto the suspenseful storyline Slant MagazineIMDb.
However, some critics noted the series "simmers but never boils," suggesting that while emotionally gripping, its final episodes resolve too cleanly after a deliberately tangled buildup Slant Magazine.
Content Warnings
_With its intense psychological themes, Disclaimer includes mature content, featuring graphic sexual imagery, nudity, and sensitive subject matter such as grooming and predation. Notably:
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Episode 3 features a corpse.
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Episode 4 portrays a suicide attempt.
These elements render the show best suited to mature audiences (TV-MA) IMDb.
Audience Sentiment
Community reactions are mixed but largely favorable. On Trakt.tv, the series holds a 72% viewer rating, with a 7.5 average score over 36,000 votes. Comments highlight its intricate storytelling and strong performances, though some find the pacing slow or the tone pretentious Trakt.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Title & Platform | Disclaimer (2024), Apple TV+ |
| Genre | Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Drama |
| Creator/Director | Alfonso Cuarón (also writer and executive producer) |
| Source Material | Based on novel by Renée Knight |
| Key Cast | Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Sacha Baron Cohen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Lesley Manville |
| Episodes | 7 (Oct–Nov 2024) with standout titles like “I wanted him to die” (Ep IV) and “It’s time for my voice to be heard” (Ep VII) |
| Production | Filmed across Cape Town, Tuscany, Venice, and London |
| Visual Style | Rich, expressive cinematography by Delbonnel & Lubezki |
| Tone & Themes | Dark, layered; explores narrative control, family secrets, identity |
| Reception | Praise for visuals and performances; some critique of pacing/resolution |
| Warnings | Graphic sexual content, nudity, sensitive themes – advised for mature viewers |
Final Thoughts
Disclaimer stands out as an atmospheric, character-driven thriller, visually arresting and anchored by Cate Blanchett’s masterful performance. Alfonso Cuarón’s meticulous direction yields a slow-burning narrative that rewards patient, thoughtful viewing. If you're drawn to psychological mysteries that probe the nature of storytelling and truth—and don’t shy away from intense, mature themes—Disclaimer is worth your watch.
