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Cherry Tree (2016) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Cherry Tree (2016) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2016 · 85 min · English
JustWatch #14,000
Directed by
David Keating

In the town of Orchard, Faith's world is upended by the news of her father’s failing health. A mysterious coach named Sissy Young proposes a disturbing method to save him, drawing Faith into a dangerous connection with a witches' coven. As she delves deeper into their shadowy rituals, Faith must face the terrifying consequences of tampering with dark forces and the true price of resurrection.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (4)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Cherry Tree
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Cherry Tree (2016)

Where can you watch Cherry Tree? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon MX Player and Amazon Prime Video Free: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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4 main characters · contains spoilers

Cherry Tree Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Cherry Tree (2016), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Christine

    Christine is a mother caught in a nightmare scenario, showcasing her resilience and fierce love for her family. Her character transitions from an unsuspecting homemaker to someone forced to confront unimaginable fear and the trauma visceral to her child’s suffering.

    • 👩‍👧‍👦 Mother
    • 🛡️ Protector
  • Mike

    Mike is depicted as a devoted husband and father who ultimately musters the courage to confront his family's assailants. His character highlights the struggles of a man trying to maintain his role as protector while wrestling with shock and desperation.

    • 👨‍👧‍👦 Father
    • 💪 Fighter
  • Sebastian

    Sebastian is portrayed as a young boy who faces the horror of being targeted by criminals due to his unintended involvement in a previous incident. His character embodies the vulnerability of youth and the heavy burden placed on him by the actions of others.

    • 👦 Youth
    • 🚸 Victim
  • Rian

    Rian serves as one of the antagonists, driven by vengeance and a desire for retribution. His character is complex, marked by a backstory that lends context to his violent actions, revealing the cyclical nature of trauma and revenge.

    • 💀 Antagonist
    • 🥊 Aggressor

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:09

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Setting

Where and When Does Cherry Tree Take Place?

The setting of Cherry Tree (2016): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

The events of the film unfold in a contemporary setting, reflecting modern societal issues such as crime and the fragility of domestic safety. The film's narrative highlights the unexpected intrusion of violence in daily life, resonating with current themes in social discourse.

Location

Cherry Tree Lane

Cherry Tree Lane is depicted as an ordinary suburban area, known for its quiet and peaceful residential atmosphere. It serves as the backdrop for a harrowing home invasion that shatters the tranquility of a family dinner, showcasing how violence can disrupt even the most serene settings.

  • 🏡 Home
  • 🌳 Nature

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:09

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3 major themes

Cherry Tree Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Cherry Tree (2016) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Violence

    The theme of violence permeates the movie, as the peaceful immersion of a family dinner is violently shattered by a home invasion. This theme explores the impact of premeditated aggression on individuals, altering the dynamics of safety and security within domestic spaces.

  • Family

    Family is a central theme, represented through the relationship between Mike, Christine, and their son Sebastian. The film illustrates the lengths to which a parent will go to protect their family, highlighting the strong bonds that can both empower and complicate one's response in dire situations.

  • Tension

    Tension builds steadily throughout the movie, as the initial calmness of the family's evening is replaced by escalating fear and despair. This theme underscores the psychological impact of home invasions and the horror of having one's sanctuary violated.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:09

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Character & theme questions

Cherry Tree Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Cherry Tree (2016): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

The movie takes place on Cherry Tree Lane, an ordinary suburban street depicted as a quiet and peaceful residential area. This setting serves as the backdrop for a home invasion that shatters the family's sense of safety.

  • cherry tree lane
  • suburban
  • setting
  • home invasion location
Q2

What time period is the movie set in?

The film is set in contemporary times, reflecting modern societal issues such as crime and the fragility of domestic safety. The story resonates with current themes about the unexpected intrusion of violence into everyday life.

  • contemporary
  • modern
  • time period
  • setting
Q3

What role does violence play in the movie?

Violence is the central theme, depicted through a home invasion that violently interrupts a family dinner. The film explores how premeditated aggression alters the dynamics of safety and security within a domestic space, permanently changing the family.

  • violence
  • home invasion
  • aggression
  • horror theme
Q4

How does the movie portray family?

Family is a core theme represented through the relationship between Mike, Christine, and their son Sebastian. The film shows the lengths a parent will go to protect their family, highlighting the bonds that empower and complicate responses in dangerous situations.

  • family
  • parents
  • son
  • protection
  • bonds
Q5

Who is Christine in the movie?

Christine is the mother in the family who transitions from an unsuspecting homemaker to someone forced to confront unimaginable fear. She showcases resilience and fierce love for her family while dealing with trauma from the home invasion.

  • christine
  • mother
  • character
  • protagonist
Q6

Who is Mike in the movie?

Mike is depicted as a devoted husband and father who musters courage to confront the attackers. His character highlights the struggles of a man trying to fulfill his role as protector while wrestling with shock and desperation.

  • mike
  • father
  • husband
  • character
  • protagonist
Q7

Who is Sebastian in the movie?

Sebastian is a young boy who becomes targeted by criminals due to his unintended involvement in a previous incident. His character embodies the vulnerability of youth and the heavy burden placed on children by the actions of adults.

  • sebastian
  • son
  • child
  • victim
  • youth
Q8

Who is Rian in the movie?

Rian serves as one of the film's antagonists, driven by vengeance and a desire for retribution. His character has a backstory that provides context for his violent actions, revealing the cyclical nature of trauma and revenge.

  • rian
  • antagonist
  • villain
  • revenge
  • character
Q9

How does the movie build tension?

Tension builds steadily throughout the film as the initial calm of the family's evening is replaced by escalating fear and despair. This theme underscores the psychological impact of home invasions and the horror of having one's sanctuary violated.

  • tension
  • psychological horror
  • home invasion
  • fear
  • suspense
Q10

What does the movie say about domestic safety?

The film explores how violence can disrupt even the most serene settings, questioning the illusion of safety in suburban homes. It resonates with contemporary discussions about the fragility of domestic security and how quickly everyday life can be shattered.

  • domestic safety
  • home
  • sanctuary
  • suburban safety
  • security

Movie threads

More Movies Like Cherry Tree, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Cherry Tree tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Brutal Survival Horror Movies like Cherry Tree

Desperate characters pushed to their limits against overwhelming, cruel forces. If you liked the relentless tension and desperate fight for survival in Cherry Tree, this list is for you. Discover movies that share a similar high-intensity, brutal horror vibe, featuring characters pushed to their limits against cruel invaders or dark forces, creating a deeply unsettling and oppressive experience.

  • brutal
  • desperate
  • oppressive
  • claustrophobic
  • anxious
  • horrifying
  • Tone: dark, oppressive, tense
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically follow a straightforward, high-stakes structure where a protagonist or group is immediately thrown into a life-or-death struggle. The plot is a direct, fast-paced escalation of threat, often set in a claustrophobic environment, focusing on the visceral experience of survival against seemingly insurmountable and sadistic opposition.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here because they share a core experience of brutal, high-tension survival. They are united by a dark tone, fast pacing, heavy emotional weight, and a focus on the physical and psychological extremes of characters fighting to live through a sustained nightmare.

Movies about Dark Bargains and Consequences like Cherry Tree

Stories where a desperate deal with sinister forces leads to terrifying outcomes. If you were captivated by the theme of a dangerous pact with a witches' coven in Cherry Tree, explore these similar stories. These films feature characters who make desperate deals with dark forces, leading to a downward spiral of terrifying consequences, psychological torment, and ambiguous, heavy endings.

  • dreadful
  • desperate
  • sinister
  • oppressive
  • anxious
  • corrupting
  • Tone: dark, tragic, dreadful
  • Pacing: steady, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist, motivated by love or desperation, willingly entering an agreement with a malevolent entity or coven. The story then meticulously unravels the promised solution, revealing its horrific true cost. The arc is typically a tragic descent, moving from hope to terror as the character loses control and becomes ensnared by the very power they sought to use.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their central plot mechanism: a doomed pact with dark forces. They share a dark tone, heavy emotional weight derived from personal sacrifice gone wrong, and a thematic focus on the corruption of good intentions and the terrifying reality of supernatural consequences.

If you liked this

Movies Like Cherry Tree

Similar movies to Cherry Tree: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

Cherry Tree (2016) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Cherry Tree in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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