The Butterfly Effect (2004)

A young man blocks out harmful memories of significant events of his life. As he grows up, he finds a way to remember these lost memories and a supernatural way to alter his life.

Directors:

Eric Bress, J. Mackye Gruber

Writers:

J. Mackye Gruber, Eric Bress

Stars:

Ashton Kutcher, Melora Walters, Amy Smart

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ashton Kutcher	...	Evan
Melora Walters	...	Andrea
Amy Smart	...	Kayleigh
Elden Henson	...	Lenny
William Lee Scott	...	Tommy
John Patrick Amedori	...	Evan at 13
Irene Gorovaia	...	Kayleigh at 13
Kevin G. Schmidt	...	Lenny at 13
Jesse James	...	Tommy at 13
Logan Lerman	...	Evan at 7
Sarah Widdows	...	Kayleigh at 7
Jake Kaese	...	Lenny at 7
Cameron Bright	...	Tommy at 7
Eric Stoltz	...	Mr. Miller
Callum Keith Rennie	...	Jason

Storyline

Evan Treborn grows up in a small town with his single, working mother and his friends. He suffers from memory blackouts where he suddenly finds himself somewhere else, confused. Evan's friends and mother hardly believe him, thinking he makes it up just to get out of trouble. As Evan grows up he has fewer of these blackouts until he seems to have recovered. Since the age of seven he has written a diary of his blackout moments so he can remember what happens. One day at college he starts to read one of his old diaries, and suddenly a flashback hits him like a brick!

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Plot Keywords:

blackout | memory | college | flashback | mail bomb | 

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Taglines:

Change one thing, Change everything.

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Genres:

Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, sexual content, language and brief drug use

Details

Official Sites:

New Line Cinema Official Facebook

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 January 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

El efecto mariposa

Filming Locations:

Aldergrove, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$143,748 (Japan) (13 May 2005)

Gross:

$143,748 (Japan) (13 May 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

BenderSpink, FilmEngine, Katalyst Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min 120 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During Evan's penultimate flashback (the one after which he wakes up in the mental hospital), there is a quick succession of shots with people making funny faces. One of the people appearing on several pictures is co-director Eric Bress.

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Goofs

When Evan writes the note under the doctor's desk, he has just moved the box containing the home movies to the floor in front of him. After writing the note, he reaches forward and turns the projector on, but never sets it up.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[reading aloud as he writes a note]
Evan: If anyone finds this, it means my plan didn't work and I'm already dead. But if I can somehow go back to the beginning of all of this, I might be able to save her.

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Connections

References Star Trek: Generations (1994)

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Soundtracks

"Stop Crying Your Heart Out"
Written by Noel Gallagher
Performed by Oasis
Courtesy of Epic Records / Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.
Played during two final scenes and the end credits

User Reviews

A Much Better Movie Than You Would Suspect...

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT- THEATRICAL CUT (4 outta 5 stars)

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT- DIRECTOR'S CUT (3+ outta 5 stars)

Now normally I tend to prefer movies that let the writer/director tell the story that they want to without having to water it down for mass consumption. In this case I have to say that the ending they they were forced to re-shoot for the theatrical release of this movie is a much more emotional, resonant and appropriate ending than the bleak, cold and grotesque finale they had originally planned. On the US DVDs you get the choice of which version to see (foreign editions only have the less compelling director's version)... so North American viewers can make up their own mind about which ending they prefer. I would suggest watching the theatrical cut first... and then check out the director's cut... which would you prefer to think of as the "real" ending?

As for the movie itself... don't be put off by the idea of Ashton Kutcher in the lead role. He does quite a good job in a serious part quite different from his usual TV persona. He plays a college student who, having been plagued by mental blackouts all his life, devotes himself to the study of human memory. Eventually he finds that by re-reading old journal entries he can will himself back in time to experience the events he had blacked out... and even CHANGE THEM using the knowledge that his older self possesses. Unfortunately one small change in the past causes some HUGE ramifications in his present day world. Can't say too much more about the plot without giving away the many fun surprises. Believable performances and a basic seriousness give the film an urgency that is sometimes missing in modern fantasy films of this type.