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
Episode 48: Drop Dead Fred and ”Imaginary Friend Syndrome” with Ariadne Giousmas
Episode 47: Married At First Sight & the brutal reality of Reality TV with Clare Verrall
2023 Psychocinematic Trailer
Episode 46: Your Fave & Flop Films of 2022!
Episode 45: Falling for Christmas- Lindsay is back! And so are outrageous representations of amnesia (with Emily & Heather McIntyre)
Episode 44: Bojack Horseman the cartoon horse teaches us everything about mental illness (with Annie Ware)
Episode 43: Hannah Diviney talks Latecomers, disability advocacy and serious plans to take over the world
Episode 42: ADHD is being Everything Everywhere All At Once (with Jordan Bastian)
Episode 41: Darren Aronofsky loves a Mental Illness Movie - Part 2. Black Swan (with Ash Roberts)
Episode 40: HALLOWEEN SPECIAL: The Exorcist asks, have you considered your mental illness could simply be a touch of demon possession?
PATREON BONUS: The Babysitters Club- Stacey’s Emergency: Diabetes is not simply a maths game
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Episode 38: Darren Aronofsky loves a Mental Illness Movie - Part 1. Requiem for A Dream (with Nic Fornasier)
Episode 37: Keep Sweet, Pray and Obey and the psychology of abusive cults (with Merowyn Olaver)
Episode 36: The Babadook is actually grief, depression, trauma, and a fabulous queer icon
Episode 34: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: a film nerd and psychologist’s literal dream (with Indi Gage)
Episode 33: Moon Knight- have we progressed in our portrayals of Dissociative Identity Disorder in 2022?
Episode 32: Russian Doll, and trying to stop dying and start living after trauma (with Maz Fornasier)
Episode 31: Human Resources & Perinatal Mental Illness (with Clary Garrett)
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