Butterfly on a Wheel (2007)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Mike Barker

Writer (WGA):

William Morrissey (written by)

Release Date:

23 August 2007 (Israel)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Lives will be broken

Plot:

A perfect family's dynamic is ruined by a kidnapper's brutally efficient plot.

Plot Keywords:

Nanny | Sociopath | Kidnapper | Gun | Daughter

Cast

Pierce Brosnan	...	Tom Ryan
Maria Bello	...	Abby Randall
Gerard Butler	...	Neil Randall
Emma Karwandy	...	Sophie Randall
Claudette Mink	...	Judy Ryan
Desiree Zurowski	...	Helen Schriver
Nicholas Lea	...	Jerry Crane
Peter Keleghan	...	Karl Granger
Samantha Ferris	...	Diane
Malcolm Stewart	...	Dave Carver
Callum Keith Rennie	...	Det. McGill
Dustin Milligan	...	Matt Ryan
Julie Patzwald	...	Female Teller
Jason McKinnon	...	French Waiter
Kurt Evans	...	Maitre D'

Also Known As:

Shattered (Singapore: English title) (USA) (new title)
Desperate Hours (Europe: English title)
The Butterfly (International: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some language and violence.

Runtime:

95 min | Germany:98 min (European Film Market)

Country:

Canada | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | South Korea:15 | Netherlands:12 | Philippines:R-13 | Taiwan:R-12 (original rating) | Argentina:16 | Finland:K-13 | Singapore:PG | UK:15 | Australia:MA | Germany:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Portugal:M/16

Filming Locations:

BC Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Butterfly Productions

Trivia:

The title is taken from the phrase "Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel?", meaning taking massive effort in achieving something minor.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the epilogue, Abby's hair alternates from being tucked behind her ear to simply hanging in her face.

Movie Connections:

Features "Ed, Edd, 'n' Eddy" (1999)

Soundtrack:

I'll Take Care of You

Intelligent Thriller

When their happy lifestyle is suddenly interrupted and turned upside down by the forceful intrusion of a menacing kidnapper (Brosnan), Abby and Neil (Bello and Butler) are left with no choice but to follow the increasingly difficult demands and tests set them by this man. It's edge-of-the-seat stuff most of the way, with plenty of twists and turns and even when you get to that stage where you think you know all the answers, something else catches you off guard. The three leading actors all provide sound performances in this intelligent, edgy little thriller, with Brosnan proving yet again, because a lot of people seem not to have realised it before, that he really can act.