94. The Butterfly Effect (with Cinematic Joshua)

Load Bearing Beams

Friend of the Show Cinematic Joshua (@CinematicJoshua on TikTok) joins us for a rollicking conversation about the cult classic Ashton Kutcher time travel picture The Butterfly Effect (2004).

Laci, Matt, and Joshua discuss the career of Ashton Kutcher, the influence of the Final Destination series on this movie, and the many different time strands this movie juggles, as well as the merits of the conventional Hollywood ending of the theatrical cut and the extremely dark original ending included in the director’s cut.

Content warning: We discuss the movie's depictions of sexual assault and self-harm.

Please follow Joshua on TikTok and check out the great work he’s doing: https://www.tiktok.com/@cinematicjoshua

Time stamps:

• 00:06:27 — Our histories with The Butterfly Effect

• 00:09:52 — History segment: Career overviews of the writer/director team Eric Bress & J. Mackeye Gruber, and of stars Ashton Kutcher and Amy Smart

• 00:21:43 — In-depth movie discussion

• 01:44:40 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Head to https://www.youtube.com/@loadbearingbeamspod to watch new, full video episodes every week.

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Music by Rural Route Nine. Listen to their album The Joy of Averages on Spotify (https://bit.ly/48WBtUa), Apple Music (https://bit.ly/3Q6kOVC), or YouTube (https://bit.ly/3MbU6tC).

NEXT WEEK: We're covering The NeverEnding Story (1984) with special guest Drewbie Doobie’s Movies (@drewbiedoobiemovie on TikTok).