TRANSCRIPT HERE
It had to be done. After a Netflix watch party everyone voted for but nobody wanted, Steph and Michael decided they simply must make an episode talking about 2004’s absolutely ridiculous psychological thriller, The Butterfly Effect starring Ashton Kutcher. We change up the format today by breaking down the problematic tropes, themes and messages plotpoint by plotpoint, to really hit home why this is an absolutely terrible movie. It’s also quite traumatic and distressing, so be warned!!
CONTENT WARNING:, Lots of Swearing (in first 20 seconds sorry) suicide, childhood abuse and trauma, sexual assault & rape, animal cruelty, ableism,use of ableist terms, harmful portrayals of sex work, discussion of disability inspiration porn.
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REFERENCES
The Butterfly Effect (2004) - IMDb
The Butterfly Effect (Film) - TV Tropes
How Ashton Kutcher Prepared For His Role In 'The Butterfly Effect' (thethings.com)
The Butterfly Effect – Ending Explained & Film Analysis – Blimey
The Butterfly Effect's Original Ending Was Ridiculously Grim (slashfilm.com)
NOTE: This podcast is not designed to be therapeutic, prescriptive or constitute a formal diagnosis for any listener, nor the characters discussed. The host is not representative of all psychologists and opinions stated are her own personal opinion, based on her own learnings and training (and minimal lived experience). Host and co-hosts do not have the final say and can only comment based on their own perspectives, so please let us know if you dispute any of these opinions – we are keen for feedback!
Editor: Nic Fornasier, Music: Michael Watson, Artwork: Bronte Poynts
The Future of Psychocinematic Podcast
Episode 68: Two Backbrace Girls, and Romy & Michele’s Highschool Reunion (with Lauren Edwards)
Episode 67: Why Santa Claus IS Autistic, and making theatre more inclusive (With Oliver Hetherington-Page)
Episode 65: HALLOWEEN SPECIAL: The Haunting of Hill House, or, problems that could be solved by simply talking? (with Braaains Podcast)
Episode 64: Crohn’s Disease representation in Boldly Go, and Pete Davidson just trying to spread awareness (with Chris Cosgrove)
Episode 63: A Star is Born - love, trauma and addiction in the journey of fame (with Alex Steed)
Episode 62: Let’s fold in the cheese as we confabulate on ND coded characters in Schitt’s Creek (with Marie Camin)
Episode 61: The Kings Speech and other screen royals with a stutter (with Priya)
Episode 60: The truth about Tourette’s and Tiktok (with Monica Nguyen)
Episode 59: Lets watch Stutz and talk about the Jonah Hill texts
Episode 58 Tribute Re-release: Rubber Johnny, a wildly problematic viral short film (with Nic Fornasier)
Episode 57 Tribute Re-release: The Royal Tenenbaums (with Nic Fornasier)
Episode 56: Inclusion in action in How To Train Your Dragon (with Lo Nigrosh)
Episode 55: Heartbreak High aka All Hail Queen Chloe Hayden (with Zoe Simmons)
Episode 54: Frozen is Psychoeducation for kids... and adults (with Laura Pettenuzzo)
Episode 53: Wednesday and coded vs canonized neurodivergent characters (with Jeremy Andrew Davis)
Episode 52: Ode to Joy and what Narcolepsy REALLY looks like (with Charlene Barker)
Episode 51: Reasons to like Please Like Me (with Dr. Elise McGlashan)
Episode 50: What America’s Next Top Model taught us about bodies, beauty, gender and how to be on top (with Clinton McQueen)
Episode 49: RE-RELEASE (RIP Judy Heumann) Crip Camp, the Disability Rights Movement, and who you should listen to instead of me
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