Delivering incredibly well on its compelling premise, The Butterfly Effect not only succeeds as a great piece of film, but also provides viewers an experience they will never forget. This film is one of a kind, going in I was hesitant to see whether I would agree with the critics who bashed the film back in 2004 when it released, or agree with the many reviewers who praised the film on IMDb. I loved it. I haven't felt this moved in a film in a very long time, and it may not be perfect in every regard, but it is a film that has given me much to think about, and one I look forward to watching again in the future. To start, I will list the biggest problems with the film. The main problem I saw throughout was the casting of Amy Smart in the role of Kayleigh (at least when she is an adult). She nails the performance in some circumstances, but more often than not, her portrayal of the character seems a bit out of place in the whole scheme of things, not playing the character effective enough throughout the film to feel like she is the right person to have been casted. Nevertheless, I still found myself enjoying many of the scenes with her in it, as Ashton Kutcher surprisingly is great in this film. I have always appreciated him as an actor in the entertaining sense, as I have seen him in other films like Dude Where's My Car? And watched him on That 70's Show, but his performance here is incredibly profound, and very deeply grounded. He not only feels perfect in the role, as well as great with his line delivery, but he truly put the effort involved into the making the film, as he studied psychology, mental disorders, and chaos before and during the film to fit the part. The script, needless to say, is brilliant. It's very ambitious, but it works so well, you'll be surprised how well it is all executed. In the end, I found up loving this film, and I recommend it to all who are a fan of Sci-fi, Ashton Kutcher, or want something truly unforgettable.
My Rating: 9.75/10
Review of The Butterfly Effect
