Cherry

The film opens with Cherry approaching a car to arrange a meeting, then pulling off a bank robbery. He explains his method to the viewers, expressing a sense of sadness in the moment before demanding money from the teller. This event sets the tone for his troubled life and criminal activities.

In 2002, Cherry meets and becomes infatuated with Emily during his college years. He is already in a relationship with Madison, but he is drawn to Emily's personality and they share a connection. Cherry later confesses his feelings to her after a walk and a kiss.

Cherry and Emily grow closer, sharing intimate moments. Emily reveals her troubled past, including her father's infidelity and getting a black eye for telling her mother. Their bond intensifies until she confesses she is falling in love with him.

Before Cherry ships off to join the army, he and Emily secretly marry at the courthouse. This decision signifies their commitment despite the impending separation and the challenges they face.

Cherry joins the army and undergoes rigorous training, where he befriends Jimenez, a fellow private supporting his pregnant wife. He discovers he is color blind during medic training, and the soldiers prepare for combat, encountering intense and traumatic experiences.

Cherry's unit is deployed to fight in a war zone. He witnesses the brutal deaths and maiming of soldiers, and the group shares moments with local children. Jimenez’s wife gives birth, adding a glimmer of personal hope amid the destruction.

While in the desert, Cherry’s unit gets their van stuck, and upon freeing it, they are hit by an IED. Cherry arrives at the wreckage to find Jimenez’s body burned beyond recognition, marking a tragic turning point in his military experience.

Back in the United States, Cherry reunites with Emily and begins life post-war. He struggles with PTSD, panic attacks, and physical trauma. His mental health deteriorates, affecting his relationship and leading to hospital visits and substance prescriptions.

Cherry and Emily develop heroin and OxyContin addictions, heavily relying on drugs sourced through criminal dealer Pills and Coke. They rob a safe and commit bank robberies to fund their drug habit, plunging further into a life of crime and addiction.

After an overdose, Emily is hospitalized, and Cherry admits her heroin use to medical staff. She escapes rehab, determined to get high with or without Cherry, leading him to resume bank robberies with her and James turning increasingly desperate.

Cherry’s accomplice Pills is shot and bleeding out after a drug binge. Despite attempts to save him, Pills dies in the backseat of Cherry’s car, marking the collapse of their criminal endeavors and deepening Cherry’s despair.

Cherry robs a bank, signaling his last criminal act, then intentionally draws police attention by firing a gun on the street. He is taken into custody, high and exhausted, as the police arrive, marking the end of his criminal life.

Cherry is sentenced to several years in prison but uses rehab to overcome his drug addiction. During his incarceration, he begins his journey toward recovery, reflecting on his troubled life and past choices.

After his release and successful rehab, Cherry is reunited with Emily, who has also overcome her addiction. They reconnect and begin a new chapter, hopeful for a life free from drugs and crime.