Starring
Antonio Banderas, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Piper Perabo, Abel Ferrara,
Vincent Riotta. Directed by Brian Goodman. (2017, 93 min).
Black
Butterfly is one of those movies that isn't all that
entertaining, but you feel somewhat compelled to see how it ends. And
unfortunately, the wait is hardly worth it.
Antonio
Banderas is Paul Lopez, a cash-strapped, alcoholic author with a
severe case of writer's block. After a drifter, Jack (Jonathan Rhys
Meyers), intervenes during a potential violent confrontation between
Paul and an angry truck driver, Paul invites him to stay at his
remote cabin. There's also an elusive serial killer running around who's recently
claimed another victim. Jack appears to fit the bill perfectly,
especially after becoming increasingly violent and unstable. He
eventually holds Paul against his will and forces him to write their
ongoing "story." Shoe-horned into the plot is real-estate
agent Laura (Piper Perabo), who Paul fleetingly pursues romantically,
but primarily exists to be put in peril.
 |
| "No, I won't get you Robert Rodriguez's autograph." |
The
movie takes forever to get going and spends way too much time giving us Paul's sorry life & financial problems before Jack
even shows up. Then the plot unfolds like a warmed-over retread of
Misery, only not as witty and no villain as dynamic as Annie
Wilkes. Additionally, we begin to suspect not everything is what is
seems long before the ballyhooed twist ending that's supposed to
knock our socks off. Still, we've come this far...might as well see if
our suspicions are correct, right?
Unfortunately,
the "twist" is not only underwhelming, it requires a
gigantic suspension of disbelief. And even that doesn't matter
because the subsequent resolution negates everything we just watched
with one of the most overused, irritating tropes in film history.
Unless Black Butterfly is the first movie you've ever watched,
you'll probably feel more cheated than surprised.
EXTRA
KIBBLES
MAKING-OF
FEATURETTE
AUDIO
COMMENTARY - With director Brian Goodman & co-writer Marc Frydman
TRAILERS
DIGITAL
COPY
KITTY CONSENSUS:
MEH...
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