If you only know Tom Holland as the wisecracking neighborhood Spider-Man, Cherry the movie is going to feel like a cold bucket of water to the face. It’s messy. It’s loud. Honestly, it’s a lot to take in during a single sitting. Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo—the same duo behind the massive spectacle of Avengers: Endgame—this 2021 Apple TV+ release was a sharp, jagged turn away from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
It didn't just pivot; it sprinted in the opposite direction.
Based on Nico Walker’s semi-autobiographical novel, the story follows a nameless protagonist (played by Holland) who drifts from college student to army medic to bank robber. It’s a cycle of trauma and addiction fueled by the opioid crisis. But what really sticks with you isn't just the plot. It’s the way the film looks. The Russos used different aspect ratios and wildly varying color palettes to show the different "chapters" of the main character’s life. One minute you're looking at a soft-focus romance, and the next, you're shoved into a desaturated, claustrophobic war zone. It’s jarring. It’s meant to be.
What Cherry the Movie Gets Right About the Opioid Crisis
Movies about drugs usually fall into one of two traps. They either glamorize the lifestyle or they turn into a "PSA" lecture that feels fake. Cherry the movie tries to find a middle ground by focusing on the mundane, repetitive nature of addiction. You see the protagonist and his wife, Emily (Ciara Bravo), trapped in a loop. They aren't just "partying." They are surviving.
The film captures the specific desperation of the late 2000s and early 2010s. This was a time when veterans were coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan with deep, untreated PTSD, only to be handed prescriptions that led them down a dark path. Holland's performance is surprisingly raw here. He loses the boyish charm and replaces it with a hollow-eyed stare that feels genuine. You can see the weight of the gear on his shoulders during the army sequences, but the weight of the needle in the later chapters looks even heavier.
Critics were split on the style. Some thought the "stylized" approach—like characters breaking the fourth wall or the camera zooming into a character’s pupil—distracted from the serious subject matter. Others argued that the flashy visuals were necessary to keep the audience engaged through such a depressing narrative. It’s a polarizing film. People either love the ambition or hate the execution. There isn't much middle ground.
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The Realistic Horror of Military Service
The "Basic" and "Hero" chapters of the film are arguably the strongest. They don't show war as a series of heroic moments. Instead, it’s a chaotic, terrifying, and often boring experience punctuated by moments of extreme violence.
The Russos used high-angle shots to make the soldiers look small and insignificant against the vast desert landscape. This reflects the character’s internal feeling of being a "cog in the machine." When he returns home, the transition is invisible to everyone else, but for him, the world has changed. The movie uses a "shaky cam" technique during his panic attacks that effectively mimics the disorienting nature of a PTSD episode. It’s uncomfortable to watch, which is exactly why it works.
Breaking Down the Six Chapters
The movie is structured into distinct segments, and if you aren't paying attention, the tone shifts can give you whiplash.
- Part One: When Nature Was Young. This is the "student" phase. It’s filmed with a wide lens and warm colors. It feels like a typical indie romance.
- Part Two: Basic. The color drains out. The world becomes gray and rigid.
- Part Three: Cherry. The Iraq war segment. This is where the title comes from; "Cherry" is slang for a new soldier who hasn't seen combat yet.
- Part Four: Home. The return. This is where the PTSD starts to manifest as physical pain.
- Part Five: Dope. The descent into heroin and OxyContin. The camera work becomes erratic.
- Part Six: Epilogue. A somber, quiet conclusion that focuses on the passage of time.
This structure is ambitious. It tries to cover over a decade of a man’s life in about two and a half hours. Some viewers felt the movie was too long, but if you're interested in character studies, the length is necessary to show the slow erosion of his soul.
The Role of Emily: More Than Just a Supporting Character
Ciara Bravo’s performance as Emily is the emotional anchor. Without her, the protagonist’s journey would feel like a solo descent into madness. Their relationship is toxic, yes, but it’s also deeply human. They love each other, and that love becomes a weapon they use against one another as they both sink into addiction.
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There’s a specific scene where they are in a car, high, and they just look at each other. There’s no dialogue. You see the regret, the love, and the hopelessness all at once. It’s arguably the most honest moment in the entire film. Bravo holds her own against Holland, ensuring that Emily isn't just a "victim" but a participant in this tragic cycle.
Production Secrets and the Russo Brothers' Vision
Most people expected the Russos to do another big-budget action movie after Endgame. Instead, they bought the rights to Walker’s book while he was still in prison. They grew up in Cleveland, Ohio—the same area where the story is set—and they felt a personal connection to the setting. They’ve spoken in interviews about how the opioid epidemic devastated their own community.
They didn't play it safe. They used 65mm lenses for certain shots to give the film a "larger than life" feel, even when the scenes were intimate. They also used a lot of practical effects for the war scenes to keep them grounded. They wanted the audience to feel the dust and the heat.
The bank robbery scenes are also unique. They aren't "cool" like a heist movie. They are frantic and pathetic. The protagonist isn't a mastermind; he’s a guy who needs money for his next fix. He uses a note that says "I have a gun" and waits nervously. It’s a far cry from the stylized violence we usually see in Hollywood.
Addressing the Criticism: Is It Too Flashy?
The biggest complaint about Cherry the movie is that the directors "over-directed" it. Critics from outlets like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter noted that the constant changing of aspect ratios and the operatic music felt like the directors were trying too hard to show off their skills.
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But you have to consider the source material. Nico Walker’s book is written in a very specific, almost detached voice. The Russos tried to translate that voice into visuals. If the movie feels "too much," it’s because the experience of the protagonist is "too much." The sensory overload is a choice. You might not like it, but it’s intentional.
Real-World Impact: The Story Behind the Book
Nico Walker wrote Cherry on a typewriter while serving time for bank robbery. This isn't just a fictional story; it’s a reflection of his own life. Walker was an army medic who served over 200 missions. When he came home, he struggled with undiagnosed PTSD and became addicted to heroin. To fund his addiction, he robbed ten banks in four months.
Knowing this changes how you view the movie. It’s not just "entertainment." It’s a confession. When the character looks at the camera and explains how to rob a bank, it’s coming from a place of lived experience. This adds a layer of "E-E-A-T" (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) to the narrative that most drug dramas lack.
Actionable Insights for Viewers
If you’re planning to watch or re-watch Cherry the movie, keep these points in mind to get the most out of the experience:
- Watch the color shifts: Pay attention to how the colors change between chapters. The transition from the warm yellows of college to the harsh blues and grays of the "Dope" chapter tells the story as much as the dialogue does.
- Don't expect a typical war movie: The Iraq sequences are about the psychological toll, not the tactical wins. Focus on the protagonist's face during the trauma, not the explosions.
- Look for the "breaking the fourth wall" moments: These usually happen when the character feels most isolated. It’s his way of reaching out to the audience because he has no one else to talk to.
- Check out the soundtrack: The score by Henry Jackman is incredible. It blends classical influences with modern, distorted sounds to mirror the protagonist’s fractured mind.
- Read the book: If the movie feels too fast or too stylized, Nico Walker’s novel provides the internal monologue that explains why the character makes his disastrous choices.
Cherry the movie isn't an easy watch, and it’s certainly not a "popcorn movie." It’s a brutal, visually inventive look at a man losing himself to the systems that were supposed to protect him. Whether you find the Russos' style brilliant or distracting, Tom Holland's performance alone makes it worth at least one viewing for any serious film fan.
To dive deeper into the themes of the film, research the real-life statistics of the opioid crisis in the Midwest during the 2010s. Understanding the scale of the epidemic provides essential context for why the Russos felt this specific story needed to be told with such intensity. For those interested in the technical side of filmmaking, look for the "making of" features on Apple TV+ that detail the specific lenses and cameras used to create the film’s unique look.