the butterfly effect

Unlike the other opening sequences I have analysed, the opening of The Butterfly Effect begins with a brief quote that summarises the Chaos Theory. It reflects the title of the film, as it mentions the effect that a butterfly's wings can have, and allows the audience a brief understanding of what the film might be about. The theory is about how small actions can have drastic and inevitable consequences that create chaos, which gives the audience an insight into the narrative as they can then deduce that the film may also be about how someone making changes over time can result in large unforeseen consequences. The first shot is a mid-close up that introduces the main character vaguely. Because of the fact that it is hard to distinguish what is happening in the shot, the audience feels compelled to continue watching. The low key lighting also sets the atmosphere and represents the psychological thriller genre of the film, as the darkness has connotations of something mysterious and unknown. The non-diegetic sound used also contributes to creating suspense, as it anxiously builds up tension for the audience before climaxing with the diegetic sound of the door being forced open. The shots that follow, as well as the sound then become more fast-paced and rapid, showing a succession of the character's actions in a few shots. The camera zooms out into a mid-shot to show the surroundings and introduce the audience to the setting. Initially, it is hard to make out what type of room it is, but the confined space successfully creates tension and suspense as it becomes obvious that the main character is attempting to hide. As the character begins to write whilst there are cut away shots to policemen calling for him, the audience is then given a further understanding of the narrative. An extreme close up of the words "save her" when he is writing then fades away into the wings of butterflies, emphasising how the character's motive of wanting to save "her" will trigger the butterfly effect.