The Butterfly Room (2012)

This is How Movies Should Be Made

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

I guess this movie is pretty unknown with only 14 people reviewing it before me and less than 1000 rating it. Yet with such a cast you would think it would appeal to a large audience. Maybe there wasn't done much promotion. The positive reviews outweigh the negative ones but still only a 5,6 average as I'm writing this. I guess a matter of taste because I wouldn't think this movie is bad in any way. Yes you could make a case for some aspects on the story not being worked out that well. Why was Ann (brilliantly played by Barbara Steele with those deadly staring eyes) so obsessed with little girls? She obviously couldn't handle it when her own daughter Dorothy was becoming a woman. Maybe she wanted them to stay young and beautiful forever just like the butterflies she preserved and pinned to the walls. I'm sure if you pay well attention enough most of the questions do get answered yet that is probably what makes the movie and story so strong, some of the mystery remains. Not only Ann is an interesting character study but little Alice as well. She did remind me a bit of Rhoda from the Bad Seed in being manipulative but she obviously didn't have the psychopathic treats of Rhoda. Kudos to Julia Putnam pulling this role of well and also Ellery Sprayberry as little Julie who was obviously going to be Ann's next victim. The story alternates between present and flash-back storytelling which demands a little focus and in the beginning a little confusing about why Ann reacts to some people in a certain way but in the end the pieces of the puzzle come together. Very tense last scenes with the characters of Julie, Ann, workman Nick (Ray Wise) and Dorothy (Heather Langenkamp) all coming together. Also very strong last scene from Dorothy first taking some kind of revenge on her mother and than later at Julie's birthday party now being adopted by Dorothy and seeing her wish granted by having a brother. That reaction of hers and than the expression on her face when a family picture is taken, wow she even shrieks from herself and for the viewer yeah, is the terror really over?

I was walking by a small cinema in NY and stumbled upon the Butterfly Room and am glad I did.Barbara Steele steals the show as the lead actress; excellent cast overall (with extensive horror film history). The movie leaves the audience in suspense with every creepy twist and turn. The Butterfly Room movie keeps you on the edge of your seat as the plot slowly unravels.Top notch cinematography. Warning: This movie may cause nightmares!Grab your friends and some popcorn, sit back and enjoy the ride in this one of a kind thriller! Highly suggested!

It was a promising film, with loads of Argento-like captures and also in general plot. I really had a good time, although confused by the time-lines, that at some point go berserk.At this moment, you don't know who is who, the what or why or when get all mixed up, messed up, and I can't even describe the last 30 minutes...If anyone even read my comments, they should know I am a total horror/thriller fan, and it's not my business dissing movies, instead I'd love to say good things about this genre.But really, this turns out to be pathetic, pointless, overall confusing, and really with no plot.

I actually feel almost pretty much like the last reviewer, with the peculiar exception, that, after saying himself that the movie was tedious and very tiresome, only to end up talking mainly about the great cult cast, he does then give to this film a much higher rating than mine! Well, i don't know: i was looking forward myself to see this one, but was disappointed throughout! Yes, the visionary images and a classy, stylized cinematography,do help the ladies to come across pretty incisive, but that, does not make a good movie! Not even close! I am myself a huge nostalgic of the Giallo's and all Euro, but, mostly Italian greater films from the glorious 1960's, 1970's and 1980's! But we are only feeling an awareness of a telephoned script, often calling for a sense of discomfort, mainly over the contrived plot, re-arranged poor dialog, and a pretty damn unimaginative direction! Besides lacking climax, the movie lacks also any insightful resources, or groundbreaking twist's! Was expecting a luminous, enigmatic experience, or even a darker, lurid one, but, let me tell you, and i am sorry to have to say this,however, i often found myself thinking about other stuff, i had to do, or personal memories.. during the 82 minutes that felt more like 180! Not good, uh? No, especially for a film, that promises to be a thriller and it is instead only a very "mental trip", with no real heartfelt moments! Forgive me, i wish i could have just said something a lot more positive, but, here we are again, in front of those projects, wanting so badly to remind you of the fabulous classic Giallo's of the past, or even of the Horrors, who were then truly a fist in the stomach, instead, all you got here, is an inspired, and, truly never surprising product, featuring a great cast of females, all ex great B Horrors stars, who are so seriously left without much mystery to work with or suggestions. And, by the way, let me tell you, that, if at least, the ladies casting seem appropriate and a very appreciated effort to remember how much underused talent there is, forgotten for no reason, at the contrary, the casting of the men is truly terrible! Even some of the smaller roles, for God's sake! Just completely uninteresting, miscast guys, who don't have any ability to project dramatic tension and certainly incapable of some enigmatic quality! While, Mr. Zarantonello's interest, in this shabby effort, shows only an obvious interest for the ladies, which is, again, a greater intent,indeed, by using, on the opposite side, just some rather anti climatic, down dreary, simply very dull male actors, not even a real face, at once, or, at least, some glance of mystery, or of a more masculine anger, this movie does, ultimately, not even help those stars to shine a little more, but, actually, in some sort of very bizarre way, it makes them all feel like they were all too over the top, in order to be watchable! Again,if very professionally created, and crafted,while, certainly greatly lit images are often on display, it is pretty painfully clear that takes a lot more, to make a decent thriller, delivering some kind of a grip of sort, worth watching! And, if there's a nostalgic feeling for the reminiscences of the old Euro genre filmmaking, at its very ending, this movie leaves you only with the desire to go back home, just to enter one of the favorite DVD's of your private collection, to be able to truly enjoy those old movies, where those same ladies used to appear in, so gloriously! Those were truly a work of genius, for the most part, and, in fact they still bewitch us,making us discuss, and dream on, but, i am afraid, and, truly sorry to bring the bad news, i don't think you'll be talking for very long, if any at all, about this latter one! Next!