The beautiful name of the picture was not invented by the filmmakers, but by famous scientists to describe chaotic systems, when the uncertainty of the result of any influence increases over time. The unpredictability of the future, even with a slight change in the past, is clearly demonstrated in the science-fiction film Butterfly Effect. Reviews thriller about time travel received mostly positive.
The idea of ​​the picture
The scripters got the idea of ​​the film from Ray Bradbury’s short story “And the Thunder struck”, where a chain of unpredictable events begins after a time traveler accidentally steps on a butterfly. However, the name itself is taken from the report of the famous mathematician and meteorologist Edward Lorenz, devoted to the theory of chaos. The scientific work was entitled, “Can a Wing of a Butterfly in Brazil Cause a Tornado in Texas?”
The script of the picture was liked by many. However, for a long time, the producers could not find anyone who wanted to realize it on the big screen. Everything changed when the Butterfly Effect hit the popular actor Ashton Kutcher. He was so impressed with what he read that he wanted to star in this picture, and for the sake of this he even agreed to become one of the producers. Kutcher replenished part of the project budget from his own funds. In total, 13 million US dollars were spent on shooting the first part of the picture. I must say that the investment has repeatedly paid for itself. At the box office, $ 96 million was earned. And the reviews for 2004's Butterfly Effect were only excellent.
First part
The film was released in 2004 and was nominated for the title of best science fiction film at the Saturn Film Awards. The main characters in the film are shown in childhood (7 and 13 years old) and as adults. In reviews of the first film, The Butterfly Effect, viewers especially note the play of Ashton Kutcher, which for many first revealed as a dramatic actor.
Seven-year-old Evan Treborn, like his father, locked up in a psychiatric clinic, suffers from memory lapses. Therefore, the doctor advised him to keep a diary, where as much as possible to write down everything that happens to him. They are moving to another city. One day, his mother (Melora Walters) leaves him with the Millers neighbors: George (Eric Stolz) and his children Kelly and Tommy Millers. Father turns out to be a pervert and makes Evan have sex with Kelly. But then the boy does not remember anything. Soon, Evan and his mother are moving again.
Seven years pass by. Evan (Ashton Kutcher) is a university student and no longer suffers from memory failures. However, he finds his old diaries and it turns out that when he reads them, he can return to the past and influence events. Evan decides to see Kelly (Amy Smart), who works as a waitress. Tommy (William Lee Scott) works in a car wash after imprisonment.
Different versions of the end of the picture
After repeated attempts to improve the past, Evan is placed in a psychiatric clinic. He asks for diaries to be read, but they tell him that they are only the fruit of his sick imagination due to guilt over Kelly’s death. The attending physician recalls that his father also constantly demanded a non-existent photo album. At the request of Evan, his mother brings amateur films that they shot in childhood. At night, he secretly enters the doctor’s office and watches footage of events that he wants to change again.
Further events are in three versions. A version appeared on the wide screen where Evan watches a film about the time when he met Kelly. The guy returns to the past, instead of the usual greeting, he says that he hates the girl and will kill her whole family if she ever comes up to him. As a result, the past is changing - the Millers are getting divorced, and Kelly and Tommy are left with their mother. In the end, adult Evan walks around New York and meets Kelly. They do not know each other and simply diverge. According to other options for a new future - Evan follows the girl or they turn around at the same time and get to know each other.
Deleted scenes
In the directorial version, Evan watches an amateur film where his mother is just about to give birth. A guy kills himself in the womb by wrapping and wrapping a cord around his throat. The version was considered the main one before the test viewing. However, the audience’s reviews of the film “Butterfly Effect”, which were simply horrified by such an ending, forced to release another finale.
Also removed from the picture are scenes where Evan's mother talks about her two previous pregnancies. Both babies were born dead. Assuming that children were inherited the ability to return to the past. And when they found out that changing the past leads to bad consequences, they kill themselves in the womb. Like Evan in the directorial version of the finale.
The second part of
The picture was taken in just 20 days. Reviews for the movie Butterfly Effect 2 are mostly negative. Many did not like the fact that the main character returns to the past only in order to build a career, and does not try to help relatives or at least arrange his personal life.
The continuation of the film is connected with the first part only in that the main character can also return to the past. Nick Larson (Eric Lively) celebrates outdoors the birthday of his beloved girl Julia (Erica Durance) with his best friends - Amanda (Gina Holden) and Trevor Eastman (Dustin Milligan). When returning from a picnic in an accident, his friends and a girl die. Soon, Nick discovers the ability to return to the past and change it. And he decides to save his loved ones.
The third part
The film premiered in 2008 at the horror film festival. Reviews for the movie "Butterfly Effect 3. Revelations" were mostly positive.
Using his gift as a time traveler, Sam Reid (Chris Carmack) returns to the past to see the killers. He has no right to stop them, so as not to change the time balance. The guy only needs to tell the police who the killer is. Helps him in this sister Jenna (Rachel Miner). Once, for the sake of his ex-girlfriend, Sam goes on breaking the rule (do not change the past). Many viewers thought the third installment of Butterfly Effect was a good movie for a low-budget picture.