Release Date: January 23, 2004
MPAA Rating: R for violence, sexual content, language and brief drug use
Written and Directed by: Eric Bress/J. Mackye Gruber
Starring: Ashton Kutcher, Amy Smart, Eric Stoltz, Elden Henson, Ethan Suplee, Melora Walters, John Patrick Amedori, Cameron Crigger, Irene Gorovaia, Brandy Heidrick, Jesse James, Callum Keith Rennie, Kevin Schmidt, William Lee Scott

Plot:
A young man (Kutcher) struggling with the psychological effects of sublimated childhood memories devises a technique of traveling back in time to inhabit his childhood body, but he finds that every trip back has unintended results on his present self, leading him to travel back again and again, trying to repair the damage that he's only making worse and worse.

Review:
Here we finally have some progress in the year 2004. The Butterfly Effect is a perfect example of a decent thriller with an original story. The unexpected comes in almost every scene of this film. No one clearly knows where the film is going to go next, but the excitement of not knowing where the director will take us next is part of the fun ride you'll have with this movie.

This isn't any ordinary thriller that any ordinary director can think of or pop it out of their brain. It actually is quite complex, but for audiences who don't like films that are puzzles and are not exactly in chronological order, then they should stay away from a film like this. Their mind will simply burst out in flames and confusion will hit them throughout the running time.

Acting wise, Ashton Kutcher did good, but he simply could have done better. His acting was surprising because you expect the least from him, he pulled it off, but just barely. I would be lying if I told you Ashton was the perfect person to play the part of Evan because this was a miscast. It isn't a miscast that ruined the film because it was still enjoyable nonetheless, but if they would have searched for the right actor, Butterfly Effect could have been even a better film without a doubt.

Amy Smart who played Kayleigh in the movie acted very good. She took on different roles as her life dramatically changed every time Evan went back into the past. She took on from a regular happy woman, to a prostitute to even a role that didn't involve liking Evan instead she was with Lenny. So a thumbs up on her, and they casted really nicely for those parts in this movie.

Surprisingly two directors directed this movie. And they wrote the film themselves. When a writer directs his own film, thats when the film is truly made, right? Well most of the time because quite frankly the vision from the writer should go into the film and if you give the script to someone else than your vision is lost and it will never be shown on the big screen. As for these directors, they did a pleasant job with this film, directing wise. They certainly didn't follow Hollywood. This is not without a doubt a film that Hollywood took over and wrote their name all over it. There is originality and the ending to Butterfly Effect is not a typical ending, some may dislike it, but the ending hurts me and I'm sure too many others as well because you feel strong love for the characters in this film, and that is a good thing.