DVD Chaos theory states that something as small as the flutter of a butterfly's wing can ultimately cause a typhoon halfway across the world. Imagine what would happen if this was applied to time travel.
Details
Evan Treborn suffers from frequent blackouts, but rather than collapsing he remains fully conscious throughout the episode, only to have no memory of the preceding moments. His mother is extremely worried that he has inherited his father's mental problems, which resulted in him being institutionalised, so in an attempt to help him remember what has happened during the day his therapist suggests that he keeps a daily journal. But without his father, Evan becomes a troubled young boy who has latched onto the Miller family. Although Evan is friendly with Kayley, the youngest daughter, her elder brother Tommy is violent, ill-tempered and extremely protective of his sister. This is hardly surprising, as their divorced father is a child molester who dreams up sick games for the children to play.
As the years progress the abuse stops, but the mental scars remain buried deep within. Kayley has become a quiet and withdrawn girl whilst Tommy has grown into the teenager from hell. Whenever they go out together they always end up in trouble, and when Kayley and Evan begin to develop feelings for each other Tommy is enraged and vents his anger on the pair. But it is after one particularly nasty episode involving explosives that Evan's mother decides it is time to move away. Kayley is heartbroken, but as Evan leaves town he promises that he will one day return for her.
Several years have now passed and Evan is at university. His blackouts have stopped and he's even launched his own project to study how the human brain deals with memory assimilation. So when his latest girlfriend discovers his old journals she encourages him to read some passages from them. As he begins to read, his bad memories come flooding back and something strange starts to happen - it's almost as if he can travel back in time to relive and remember the exact moments his blackouts occurred.
Remembering the past, Evan decides to return home and carry out his promise to Kayley. But upon meeting her he discovers that Tommy is in a young offenders institute and Kayley is working at a dowdy diner. Worse still, Evan inadvertently triggers memories that Kayley would rather remain forgotten, leading to tragic consequences. Wrecked with guilt, Evan becomes convinced that if his journals truly allow him to travel back in time, he can change things for the better. But as every time traveller knows, even the smallest change can have devastating consequences.
Picture & Sound
For a film made on such a tight budget the picture is nothing short of a revelation, with some excellent cinematography from the directors. The image is bright and, at times, richly colourful with a good level of detail and an above average bit-rate throughout. There is the occasional problem with grain, but this is most likely a consequence of the many stylistic techniques used during filming. Never the less, there are no issues with artifacting or outlining, and the print remains clean and free from dust or other imperfections.
Various set pieces have also been deliberately desaturated, over-saturated and digitally manipulated to give them a more nightmarish look and to reflect the shifting realities Evan finds himself in. On the whole it works really well, with certain scenes bursting with colour while others are heavily filtered. Even with all of this processing the DVD handles it impressively without any major detriment to picture quality.
The soundtrack on The Butterfly Effect is an absolute cracker, with the 448 Kbps Dolby Digital 5.1 providing an excellent all-round workout for your system. Dialogue is clear and precise in the centre channel whilst there's good stereo separation across the front. However, the real highlights are the surround and LFE channels, which are used to great effect during the film's more intense moments.
Missing out on the theatrical release I settled down to watch the film at a comfortable volume without realising what was in store. For a film such as this I'd nudged the volume up slightly, but as soon as Evan experiences his first time travel episode the rear channels roar into life and the LFE channel rattles the room like nothing I'd heard before. It certainly makes you jump, but in the best possible way. It's just a pity that, unlike the region one edition, there is no DTS soundtrack as it would undoubtedly have been superb.
Menu & Extras
Keeping a similar theme to the opening credits, the menu system is superbly animated and scored throughout, with some excellent transitions between screens. And as if the presentation wasn't enough, the disc is packed with a strong range of extras which will keep both film fans and budding scientists entertained.
The highlight is the superb director's audio commentary from Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber, which is also available as a subtitle track. Both offer plenty of insight into the script, cast and production, with Bress doing most of the talking while Gruber chips in with useful prompts. One particularly interesting point is that earlier drafts had the character named Chris Treborn, which opens up some intriguing symbolic interpretations. It's a shame they didn't keep it.
The commentary is so packed with information that you could easily end up watching the film multiple times - once normally, once with the audio track, and once again with the subtitle commentary. Naturally, there is the usual back-slapping, but if you can overlook that it's one of the better commentary tracks available.
The only real downside is the constant references to the theatrical version, which isn't included here. The region one edition includes both cuts, making this omission all the more frustrating and raising the question of why region two missed out.
The disc also contains four featurettes. Two focus on the production whilst the others explore chaos theory and the appeal of time travel. The Science and Psychology of Chaos Theory featurette is particularly engaging, while The Allure of Time Travel provides some unintentionally amusing viewpoints.
There's also a selection of deleted scenes with optional commentary, including glimpses of alternate endings. Most focus on Evan's childhood and it's easy to see why they were trimmed, but given this is the director's cut it's a shame they weren't reinstated. The presentation quality remains excellent throughout.
Overall
As with the superb Donnie Darko, the equally impressive Butterfly Effect slipped quietly under the radar despite offering something far more interesting than the usual Hollywood fare. Much of the early attention focused on Ashton Kutcher stepping into a serious role, but what really stands out is just how well the film handles its complex and often disturbing subject matter.
This director's cut only strengthens the experience, offering a darker and more cohesive version of the story that feels closer to the filmmakers' original vision. While there are the occasional plot holes and some leaps in logic, the emotional weight, unsettling tone and clever structure more than compensate. It's the kind of film that rewards repeat viewings, each time revealing something new.
With strong performances, an excellent soundtrack, and a story that genuinely makes you think, The Butterfly Effect is far better than its initial reception might suggest. Highly recommended, even if the region one edition still edges it in terms of overall package.
Special features
- Beyond the Movie: The Science & Psychology of the Chaos Theory, The History and Allure of Time Travel, Fast Track - Trivia Subtitle Track
- All Access Pass: Filmmaker commentary - Directors and Screenwriters Eric Bress & J. Mackye Gruber
- Deleted / Alternate Scenes
- The Creative Process
- Visual Effects
- Storyboard Gallery
- Original Theatrical Trailer
