Acrimony 2018

Melinda Moore [Taraji P. Henson] bumps into engineering student Robert [Lyriq Bent] during college, and a sudden outburst reveals her volatile temperament as she assaults him both physically and verbally. Later that same day, he returns papers that were mixed up in the earlier clash to her dorm room, setting the stage for a fraught, complicated connection. On the day of her mother’s funeral, the pair have a reckless encounter in his RV, and what begins as a volatile moment gradually becomes a relationship, with Melinda stepping into a new, uneasy chapter of her life.

On that period’s tragic turn, Melinda Moore [Taraji P. Henson] discovers that Robert [Lyriq Bent] has been unfaithful with Diana Wells [Crystle Stewart], and the revelation pushes her to a breaking point. Enraged, she rams Robert’s RV with her car. She passes out from the injuries and is rushed to the hospital for an emergency full hysterectomy that leaves her infertile. Despite this, Melinda and Robert marry, even as her sisters, June [Jazmyn Simon] and Brenda [Ptosha Storey], object to the union.

For eighteen years, Melinda supports them as Robert cannot find steady work because he is consumed with developing his invention. He mortgages their house to build a prototype of a revolutionary self-charging battery, hoping to sell it to venture capitalist Prescott [Douglas Dickerman]. Diana, now working as Prescott’s assistant, arranges for Robert to meet with him. When June and Brenda uncover Diana’s wallet in Robert’s truck, they tell Melinda that he is cheating. The family runs a catering business and offers Robert a job, warning that missing a client could cost them their truck contract. En route to a delivery, Robert gets a call from Diana saying Prescott wants to reconsider the deal. He abandons the delivery; Prescott offers $800,000 for the design, but Robert wants to license the technology instead and declines. Melinda, furious at both Robert’s refusal and the Diana affair, files for divorce and moves in with Brenda. Robert moves into a homeless shelter, but Diana learns of his hardship and insists he live with her.

Prescott later offers a multi-million-dollar deal while allowing Robert to keep the intellectual property, which he accepts. Robert visits Melinda at work, although she refuses to reconcile. He accepts her decision but, as an apology, gives her $10 million and buys back their home. Regretting that she abandoned him, Melinda visits him in his new penthouse apartment and attempts to rekindle their relationship, but Diana appears and introduces herself as Robert’s fiancée.

Furious, Melinda sues the couple, claiming that the Prescott deal happened before their divorce, but the case is dismissed. The couple countersue Melinda and obtain restraining orders. As Melinda’s behavior worsens, even her family turns on her and advises hiring bodyguards and installing security measures in their house. Melinda eventually chases the couple away. She retaliates by visiting a bridal shop and destroying Diana’s wedding gown with acid. She is caught and sentenced to court-m mandated counseling, where she tells her therapist that Robert took advantage of her. Her therapist suggests she may have borderline personality disorder. Melinda’s mental state deteriorates further after learning Diana is pregnant. On Robert and Diana’s wedding day, Melinda’s family and friends are forced to prevent her from leaving her house and ruining the ceremony.

Robert and Diana leave on their honeymoon cruise. Melinda sneaks onto the boat, shoots Robert, and makes the boat’s crew jump overboard. Robert then overpowers Melinda and tells Diana to take the dinghy and rescue the crew. Melinda returns and attempts to kill Robert with an axe. In the ensuing struggle, Robert accidentally pushes the anchor release button with his foot. Melinda becomes entangled by the anchor’s chain, pulling her into the ocean where she drowns. Diana returns with the crew and comforts Robert.