User reviews

Black Butterfly is a mystery/thriller. You feel that there are going to be twists so you try to figure out what the outcome will be. For once I had it right even though it wasn't necessarily obvious. My wife didn't see it coming. The story is far from perfect but it still remains a good movie to watch. The main characters are played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Antonio Banderas and they did a good job. Their complicity is what the movie makes it interesting to follow. And even if there were a couple faults in the story, not very big ones, Black Butterfly is a good movie for people who like this genre. It could have been better but than again I saw so much bad movies lately that I'm not going to be fussy about this one. Nicely shot, with good actors, and with an okay story with the necessary twists for a movie in this genre.

This is one of those twist movies that feels forced even throughout the first viewing and I expect that a second would make it feel all the more so. The twist itself is plausible and satisfying but the house of cards required to build up to it ... is kind of a monstrosity. Still, I'd say worth seeing at least once. You've definitely seen worse.

I rarely start watching a movie and try figuring out or realizing the plot so the twist and the end was so awesome and totally surprising but I wish they'd left it there and not added the last twist. Jonathan Rys-Meyers nailed his part, he one seriously talented actor.

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.

I have never been accused of holding back my thoughts on reviews I've written for films or music or anything really. I feel it is ones duty, if writing a review from a Laymans perspective to be as honest and forthright as possible.

In my reviews, I do not sugarcoat or bend to please the masses if my opinions are in dire contrast to what most say or think. Also, rather then go into redundant story line explanations which are provided in the synopsis portion of the first page , I try to tell people what I like or dislike and often will oppose or agree with other people's reviews.

That said, "Black Butterfly" was much better then I had anticipated. I will elaborate. First, Rhys-Meyers and Banderas have great chemistry in this film. I think highly of both actors skills to begin with but think they would make a great pairing in another film as they worked so well off each other in BB.

The story line may seem typical at first, as is often the case in the thriller genre, but it most certainly is NOT! I never provide information on narratives or plots that may be considered a "Spoiler" but will say there are some VERY surprising moments in this film with great twists and turns that completely blind-side the viewer.

I love a film where you think you have the proverbial "Killer, cheat, thief etc" right in your cross hairs then the story completely smacks you down and leaves you wondering, "how did that happen"?

With the amount of Drek being made at breakneck speed today it's no wonder film fans abound are pleasantly surprised when a movie can actually trick you or keep you in suspense for more then five minutes throughout the entire film. Between big studio productions, self produced big name Hollywood types and Indie films we are becoming more and more frustrated with the same old C**P being fed to us and packaged as "Bold and new". This is just not the case. In general. Black Butterfly delivers all it promises to and then some.

Let's be honest....there are not many Hitchcock worthy scripts left that have not already been put on film 1000's of times. However, every now and then a very "watchable" film comes our way. This is one of those films.

I can say with confidence, this is almost two hours you will be glad you invested if your into a tricky, well done, well acted, twisty thriller that can easily be recommended to a friend.

By all means, enjoy!

I watched this film primarily based on the other glowing reviews in IMDb. I try screening on IMDb, Rotten T. & Netflix to keep from wasting time and being disappointed. This film currently has a 50% rating on the Tomato Meter, so I realized it was a gamble.

The main issue for me was that the plot strained any sense of credibility in a real world setting starting from the point where the two main characters begin to establish a relationship. I always appreciate a clever plot twist, however, while said plot twist is delivered well towards the end of the story, the scenario is so implausible that I felt I had really wasted my time. The ending was a bit of a cliché (some might consider another "twist") and was equally disappointing.

If you don't mind films that deviate sharply from the real world, then you might find this entertaining.... otherwise, I'd recommend staying away.

I really enjoyed Black Butterfly, it was one of those movies that you kind of knew what was happening next, and then things turned out very differently. The 2 main characters were very well acted. I know a negative reviewer was saying alcoholics don't swig out of bottles, well as an alcoholic, I can tell you that was true to life, as was the early morning drinking, and blanking out and waking up in bed. The movie had a great location a secluded ranch style house and the tension was palpable almost from the start. I promise you, the ending was amazing and totally unexpected and a pleasant surprise. Overall a low budget movie which I enjoyed far more than Star Trek Beyond which cost $180 million dollars and which I refused to watch to the end. I am quite critical with movies, read my other reviews. This film is definitely worth viewing with pleasure and interest.

I was so close to not recommend it because of the ending. I mean, the final 20 seconds. At first, i hated it. But i thought about it and it probably makes sense if you think who is Banderas' character. Still, i would prefer this movie had a different ending. The one we've watched after the big/penultimate twist happened.

In any case, this is a good mystery/thriller movie. Not a MUST WATCH, not a strong recommendation, there are many better movies to watch, even in this genre. But a fan of this genre will like it. Banderas is not a great actor, still he has a lot of charisma and i like to watch him in movies. Rhys Meyers is amazing, he carries this movie on his shoulders. Perabo is passable.

Watch it without reading anything about the plot. A lot of intense moments. Kinda clever. More mystery than thriller, i mean, if you are looking for action and fights, this is not your movie. Lower your expectations, don't expect something mind blowing and you will enjoy 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.

It was a little surprise film, but not that great. I really enjoyed it. It was thrilling, suspense and fast paced storytelling. I usually like this type of flicks. If you too prefer entertainment over a masterpiece, then you would enjoy it as well. Only the beginning was slow, but once the concept of the film ignited, it was a non-stop entertainment. So the later parts are like between the two characters that took place in an isolated place. A great setting and with all the development, the film totally gets you.

A struggling alcoholic writer who got rescued by a stranger at a diner, invites him to the home for the stormy night ahead. Later the stranger decides to help him out with his writing, so his stay extends. With talking to each other, the writer comes to know what kind of person he's brought into his house. His agenda ires the stranger and hence a conflict begins between them. The rest of the film is to disclose who ends where with a twist at the end.

When the second act begins, that's when your guessing game starts. At the end of that section, I had in my mind that at least 4 to 5 possible paths the story could head. With that kind of option, who won't enjoy such film. Whatever I predicted, that did not happen. That's another reason why I liked it. The twist was good, and so the performances by Jonathan Rhye Meyers and Antonio Banderas. BUT when all was going well, the end scene before the credits, disappointed me. It should have not been in the film at all. That's why I did not like 'Prince of Persia' too. Apart from that final 10 seconds, it was a good film.

7/10

Paul Lopez (Antonio Banderas) is a struggling hard-drinking writer. His career is troubled. His money problem is forcing him to sell his property through realtor Laura Johnson (Piper Perabo). He gets into a road rage incident with a trucker. Drifter Jack (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) comes to his aid. Paul befriends Jack and brings him back to his home.

This thriller takes a big swing. It starts out with a standard creep story which turns into Misery adjacent. I'm fine with that. It has potential especially with good actors. Then the movie takes that big swing. Looking backwards, it's not a reasonable turn. I get the wish for a shocking reveal, but it relies on too many conveniences. The final scene is an acceptance that the twist is a writer's creation. All in all, I applaud them for taking the big swing even if it doesn't completely work.

Two twists. the first one is utterly unbelievable. the second is utterly lazy.

decent acting, interesting location. but twisted into an awful mess.

Great filmwith banderas who is so so good. Lots of little twists and turns. The reason for the 7 is the very final 2 mins. Watch it and see whatyou think. Does it spoil it?

~ starts out flat, with almost no character development, lots of dialog but no real interaction between them and their actions, becomes boring and predictable at a certain point; then it hits you, and for 2 minutes it becomes a great f*****g movie only to mess up everything in the end and give you the cheapest solution possible.

A real thriller. A definitely "must watch" film. Banderas is OK but overshadowed by Myers who puts in a great performance. The story itself takes a number of very surprising turns. Many times during the movie you think you have it all figured out, then BANG! I hope no reviewer gives spills the beans on it.

If you are looking for a one sentence answer as to whether or not, you should watch black butterfly; the answer is yes. Here we have a movie that does not conform to the typical run-of-the-mill script that the masses have become prone to accept. This is a movie that as soon as you think you have it figured out you realize you're not even close. That's not to say this is a flawless movie, there are several discrepancies, such as: not being filmed in the USA, yet said to be taking place in Colorado. A jeep that drives without keys in the ignition, and an avid hunter/serial killer, who can not defend himself in a life and death situation. There are several reviews/reviewer's on here that are unhappy with the final outcome of this film. But I beg the question... where do people think that movie writers come up with their ideas? The short answer is they come from everywhere, dreams, reality, imagination, life experience, etc. There is no finite/ definitive place that inspiration comes from. Is this film worth watching, short answer: YES.

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.