Synopsis
Paul is a down-on-his-luck screenwriter who picks up a drifter and offers him a place to stay. However, when the deranged stranger takes Paul hostage and forces him to write, their unhinged relationship brings buried secrets to light.
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Cast
- Antonio BanderasPaul
- Jonathan Rhys MeyersJack
- Piper PeraboLaura
- Abel FerraraPat
- Nicholas AaronDelivery Man
- Vincent RiottaLt Carcano
- Gioia LibardoniWaitress
- Nathalie Rapti GomezJulie
- Alexandra KlimPaul's Wife
- Katie McGovernNancy Barrows
Recommendations
- 70
The Hollywood Reporter
None of it is earth-shattering, but Goodman gives it muscle and makes it work. And with their synapse-firing performances, Banderas and Rhys Meyers keep the viewer at arm’s length and guessing — through, and even past, fade-out. - 70
Los Angeles Times
Thanks to tight direction by Brian Goodman and lively performances from Antonio Banderas and Jonathan Rhys Meyers, the film’s engaging even when it’s ridiculous. - 50
Chicago Sun-Times
The twist on top of the twist was so amateurish, so hacky, so insulting to the viewer, I’m already thinking about apologizing to you guys for just the one-star demerit. - 30
Village Voice
Banderas, who doesn’t get to speak a single good line, still manages to convey panic, terror and confusion. It’s his performance that allows this film to float at all. - 27
Paste Magazine
Black Butterfly plays as little more than the act of snickering adolescents toying with their audience, complete with an insulting final scene that confirms the film as a total waste of time. - 25
RogerEbert.com
Black Butterfly communicates all of its empty-headed ideas idiotically, but still retains a knowing smugness regarding its intentions, like it’s pulling a rabbit out of a hat while acting like no one’s ever seen such a trick. - 12
Slant Magazine
Its incoherent turn of events attempts to stupefy us into mistaking its deeply flawed internal logic for ingenuity.
