The Butterfly Effect

I’m not sure how to approach this movie. On the one hand, it is excellently filmed, and the overall concept and atmosphere of the movie were really captivating. Even Ashton Kutcher, one of my least favorite actors in Hollywood, seemed likeable. On the other hand, I really couldn’t bear the last 20 minutes. Maybe it's because I don't like the sight of blood, the subject of mental illness or who knows why. The atmosphere of the movie made me physically sick and I had to pause it a few times, because it even gave me a slight headache, that’s how much it got to me. A great movie with atmosphere, but I can't tell you what my reaction will be the second time I watch The Butterfly Effect as I’m not planning to do so anytime soon. (14/10/2015)

I was definitely expecting more from this film, at least based on the reviews, the word of mouth and the audience reviews. But after it was over, I thought it was pretty obvious how this was going to end, so what's so bombastic about it? It's definitely a good subject, but they could have gleaned a whole lot more from it. (06/12/2017)

Constant hopelessness and despair in a perfect package of time jumps and subsequent catastrophes. At a time when the Fateful Touch was still an unknown video cult, I remained scalded in front of the screen, because such a directorial debut is a made miracle. There aren't many movies where the viewer wishes for a happy ending more, because there are too many constant bad ones for one nervous system. Sometimes we only achieve victory through sacrifices. (08/12/2005)

The idea that we could travel back in time and change the past as we see fit is so appealing that even I sometimes get swept away by a film that tells this story. Here, however, the frequent illogicality of the plot spoiled the overall impression. Even Ashton Kutcher couldn’t save it. He is nice to look at, but unfortunately, that's about it. (65%) (20/11/2021)

Where its genre brothers (for instance, 12 Monkeys or Donnie Darko) in their complexity are just starting to warm up they’re wheels of logic, The Butterfly Effect with its “plot based and time paradox" line are still standing at a red light. Even so, it’s still a good movie, especially in the first half. After that the screenwriters (and, because they also directed it, the directors too) start running out of breath and ideas, while Kutcher runs out of talent. The whole movie starts to sink into the waters of mediocrity, with one cliché after another, and only thanks to the timely ending it didn’t sink even lower. (05/06/2004)