Black Butterfly

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First off, I don't claim to be a genius when figuring out what twists and turns will occur in a film. That said, the plot of 'Black Butterfly' came as a complete surprise. I have uttered "Didn't see that coming" at a plot twist watching many a movie. A few times I have said it twice. This is the first time I have said it three times. If your cup of tea is a story that will take you by surprise, this is definitely a flick worth watching! And BTW, reviewers should NOT put a spoiler in their title, readers see it and it's too late to avoid.

*** WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD *** This movie resembles "True Story" in so many ways, that I had to look back and see if the Directors/Writers are similar. The idea of a writer that does a terrible act to boost his career, even at the sacrifice of his own loved ones and own freedom, is not new. As a 49 year old guy, it was evident to me from the start that the "drifter" is not just a simple kidnapper like in all these simple kidnapping movies out there. I knew that the cop and house agent girl were not dead, and they play a role in some more sophisticated plot. Honestly, I first thought that they all came to help him with his story (and eventually they did if he is allowed to print it...). But the fact that they were all FBI was a little surprise... Antonio Banderas acting is excellent, but I also notice something else: even taking into account that he actually plays a drunk writer, it is evident that aging actors like Matthew McConaughey, Al Pacino, Robert De-Niro, Brad Pitt, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Denzel Washington and others, have a hard time keeping in shape. Maybe it will fall on me soon...

A failing writer takes in a drifter who saved his ass in a road rage incident, but the rage has only just begun as the drifter takes over ... Solid psychological thriller, with good performances. The pace is even, and everything is introduced in good time. It's mostly a two-hander, with decent dialogue and a steady ramp up in tension, only to switch at the end with a clear twist. I guess the only problem is that we rely on the government to tell us what's true in the end - bit old fashioned and needed more weird, maybe more influence from female characters. All the actors are good, and the direction. Nothing special in the photography or sound. Overall: worth a look.

I only know Antonio Banderas thought action movie like Desperado,The Mask of Zorro....he awesome in that so see him for the first time starring in a crime thriller movie is very refreshing.About the movie Black Butterfly i think there a lot of cool stuff in it but at the same time there also a bunch of dumb moment and a terrible ending.The movie concept is old a writer live in a isolation place pick up a stranger played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers for helping him while a serial killer lurking outside.If you watch many home invasion movie you will know the stranger always is the killer but this movie take the twist to a whole new different level.The movie is suspense and intense that gave me a 'Misery' vibe with good performance from both Antonio and Jonathan.My only problem with this movie is when the truth finally revealed it took me off guard cause the leading up to that is so ridiculous.If the movie keep that ending i may feel better but no there a second ending and that ending is completely horrible and insult my intelligence.You guys need to watch the movie to believe it

This film tells the story of a reclusive writer, who gets into a fight in a diner. A stranger helps him out, therefore the writer offers the stranger a place to stay. Little does the writer know, things will go the wrong way, and he is soon taken prisoner in his own house. "Black Butterfly" has a thrilling story. The tension and thrill is palpable, especially when the stranger becomes increasingly deranged. One hour into the film, there is a major twist that gets me lost for a moment, but after making sense of the twist, I find it quite clever. It is a thrilling and an enjoyable film.

Since his fall from being in the Hollywood "A" list, Antonio Banderas hasn't been terribly successful in finding quality direct to video productions to star in, and "Black Butterfly" doesn't do anything to break him out of the doldrums. I will admit that I never got to the point of being bored by what I was seeing. However, all the same the movie failed to engage me. It's a very slow-moving movie, taking much longer to get to key points in its storyline. It takes about 40% of the movie for the Banderas character to realize that he might be unsafe about the hitchhiker he has invited into his home. But what's worse about the movie is the two (yes, two) twists the movie decides to pull off in its last half hour. While I admit I didn't see the first twist coming, right after it was pulled off, it instantly became ludicrous when thinking about it. And I thought about it a lot. Even worse is the second twist at the very end of the movie, a clichéd and oh-so-tired twist that essentially makes what we have seen up to that point a waste of time. Had the movie instead gone the more logical and believable route, and ditched those two twists, we might have had an okay thriller. But as it is, it will most likely frustrate and anger viewers. P.S. Attempts to pass the shot in Italy countryside as being Colorado are very unsuccessful.

Like the previous reviewer, I am not going to discuss the story, it has to be seen. A plot with more twists than a corkscrew, well acted and executed from start to end. On a par with Secret Window, if you liked this film, then Black Butterfly will not let you down. Banderas at his best.

This the remake of the French movie "Papillon Noir" directed by Christian Faure at 2008. The story is nearly the same except, an additional scene just at the end, which is a disappointment because it make the film much more simple. I recommend the original French one, especially if you are familiar with the language.

A remake of a foreign thriller, this version is worth your while if you've read the synopsis and the story sounds appealing. The direction is crisp. Editing and cinematography are generally excellent. The story and script are tight and twisty. The casting is excellent -- Antonio Banderas was cast instead of Nicholas Cage and we can all be thankful for that. Jonathan Rhys-Meyers and Piper Perabo do a great job as well, as do the supporting players. Sadly, the sound mix is one of the worst I've ever heard, due to the poorly mixed dialog tracks and one song that is cranked too loud (and not a great song at that). The dialog volume veers wildly all throughout the movie, from barely audible mumbling to deafening shouts. I had to watch this with my controller in hand to be ready to drop or raise the volume significantly at every radical shift. The fact that two production sound mixers are credited might point to the problem (i.e. -- the first one might have been replaced for being incompetent), but there's no excuse for not fixing it in post so the ultimate blame belongs to the post supervisor and the dozen or so producers listed in the credits who should have insisted on and sprung for a better mix. Yes, post sound is an expensive item but it's also a critical feature. Ironically, the sound efx are top notch. It might be a small triumph, but the gun shots are the most realistic shots I've ever heard in a movie. If you like tense commercial thrillers, check it out. Just keep the volume control handy, particularly if your neighbors are sensitive to noise.