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Parents' Guide to

Black Butterfly

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Well-cast thriller entertains, despite violence, language.

Movie R 2017 93 minutes
Black Butterfly Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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What's the Story?

In BLACK BUTTERFLY, screenwriter Paul (Antonio Banderas) lives in lonely house near a remote mountain town, where a person could easily go missing. He's behind on his bills, drinks too much, and can't seem to write anything. He wants to sell his house, but real estate agent Laura (Piper Perabo) isn't having any luck. Then, in a diner, a stranger saves Paul from a fight with an angry trucker, and Paul offers the stranger, Jack (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), a place to sleep for the night. Jack winds up staying on, helping out, and giving Paul ideas for a new screenplay. But Jack insists on realism, so he starts to test Paul with increasing displays of violence, such as waking him up with a knife to the throat. How will this screenplay end?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (2 ):

Thanks to smart casting and fine use of chilly, damp mountain locations, this "B"-level thriller packs enough of a punch -- and has enough surprises up its sleeve -- to make it worth a look. Director Brian Goodman normally works as an actor, and he displays good actorly instincts in choosing Banderas and Meyers for his film. The two stars bring a fresh angle, a little something different, to familiar roles. (Perabo is on screen less, but she's also delightful and effective in her scenes.)

Most of Black Butterfly (the title comes from a tattoo on one character's back) hinges on the way that Jack and Paul interact with one another, and they create an effective electricity, slowly escalating the tension in their scenes. The vivid atmosphere and the look and layout of the mountain cabin are also key. The screenplay by Marc Frydman and Justin Stanley -- based on a 2008 French-language movie -- isn't entirely predictable, which is always a good thing. Even as it unleashes twist after twist, the film's tone remains minimalist and appealingly simple, rather than outrageous or ridiculous.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Black Butterfly's violence. How much is actually shown? Does the movie feel any more or less violent because of this? What's the impact of media violence on kids?

  • How does the movie depict the character's heavy drinking? Do you think he's an alcoholic? Does he try to quit? Does he succeed? What are the consequences of his actions? Does the movie glorify drinking in any way?

  • Did you enjoy the movie's twists? Did you see them coming, or were they surprising? What makes a good twist?

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