Very dark, but very complex and well made

Rating: 9/10 (17 October 2007)

I saw a preview for The Butterfly Effect and thought it looked interesting though dark. However, it got fairly mediocre reviews and I just forgot about it. One night I saw it was on TV so I decided to give it a chance. I was really impressed. The story is complex and for awhile you don't know exactly what is going on until the missing pieces are gradually filled in. I think it has the most unique approach to time travel that I've ever seen in a movie. It was far better than I had ever expected from the reviews. But it is not a 'fun' movie or a movie for kids. It is very dark, and at times depressing. I know at some points I was dreading the ending because I just knew it wasn't going to be a happy ending... the movie just gets darker and darker as more of the past is changed. The ending is actually 'happier' than I had expected - well, more satisfying than happy. I saw the two alternate endings and they really are very similar, and I can't say I really have a preference for either one.