Solid, entertaining what-if thriller

Rating: 8/10 (2 February 2004)

Butterfly Effect is from the same team that brought us the excellent horror sequel Final Destination 2, and the internal similarities (characterizations, shot composition, sequencing) are intriguing. While Butterfly Effect is by no means a masterpiece of modern moviemaking, mainstream critics have treated it far too unkindly.
It does tend to jerk the viewer around a bit emotionally, but that is surely the effect the filmmakers were going for. I recommend The Butterfly Effect to anyone who enjoys a visually tasty what-if piece with a well-cast group of talented young actors.