Marvel’s Spider-Man star Tom Holland has taken on a completely new direction in his career in his new film “Cherry,” streaming now on Apple TV. This rollercoaster motion picture follows the life of a veteran and the challenges he experiences throughout his life. Producers Joe and Anthony Russo show the depth and destruction of addiction that affect so many veterans. 

PROLOGUE AND EPILOGUES

This dramatic film based off of the best-selling semi-autobiographical novel “Cherry” by Nico Walker follows the slow destruction of the main character, whose name is Cherry.  

“Where do you want me to start?” Holland’s rasping voice begins the film, and shivers and tension fill viewers as they stare at themselves through a dark screen. The film is separated into seven different sections, each with its own title. Viewers get a deep view of Cherry’s love life, his basic training experience, deployment, return home and his addiction to drugs. 

COMPELLING BUT BROKEN LOVE

Alongside Holland, Ciara Bravo implements the story of Emily, Cherry’s wife. While many may recognize Bravo from the Nickelodeon show “Big Time Rush” this role is the exact opposite of the young innocent girl she once played, widening Bravo’s acting career. 

Viewers see a toxic relationship develop between the two until death do them part, beginning in a college classroom and marked by a spontaneous marriage. Emily lives a few years without Cherry because of deployment, and when he returns, he is completely changed. His drug addiction and mood swings gets her hooked as well which leads to the couple joining in their heroin addiction. 

Although their characters are broken beyond healing, Bravo and Holland are spectacular at portraying the love that takes different forms. The chemistry was undeniable and shows just how much someone will fall from humanity to please their significant other. 

WARNING 

“Cherry” flips the storyline to explain life and how deployment can deeply affect the psyche. 

This movie is full of profanity and vulgar gestures throughout the movie. It is not a one and done film that highlights fairy tale aspects, but instead dives into deep and depressing topics. Suicide, murder, death, depression, addiction, emotional abuse, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and war are all compiled into the 140-minute movie. Overall, there are extremely graphic images throughout the film. 

A parting from the Russo brothers’ previous works in Marvel, viewers should be extremely cautious while watching. For those who have suffered from abuse in any sense, this could be an extremely triggering film. 

IS THERE HOPE?

After a brief scare to a heart wrenching ending, Cherry finds himself in jail and gives himself his own redemptive ending which brings the movie together, and this is where it ends. 

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 57.2 million Americans over the age of 12 struggled with substance use in 2019. This movie shows the reality that 20.8% of the United States adult population deals with. “Cherry” brings attention to how war veterans are not given the care they need post-deployment and overall helps bring compassion and awareness to this ongoing situation.