I guess this movie is pretty unknown with only 14 people reviewing it before me and less than 1000 rating it. Yet with such a cast you would think it would appeal to a large audience. Maybe there wasn't done much promotion. The positive reviews outweigh the negative ones but still only a 5,6 average as I'm writing this. I guess a matter of taste because I wouldn't think this movie is bad in any way. Yes you could make a case for some aspects on the story not being worked out that well. Why was Ann (brilliantly played by Barbara Steele with those deadly staring eyes) so obsessed with little girls? She obviously couldn't handle it when her own daughter Dorothy was becoming a woman. Maybe she wanted them to stay young and beautiful forever just like the butterflies she preserved and pinned to the walls. I'm sure if you pay well attention enough most of the questions do get answered yet that is probably what makes the movie and story so strong, some of the mystery remains. Not only Ann is an interesting character study but little Alice as well. She did remind me a bit of Rhoda from the Bad Seed in being manipulative but she obviously didn't have the psychopathic treats of Rhoda. Kudos to Julia Putnam pulling this role of well and also Ellery Sprayberry as little Julie who was obviously going to be Ann's next victim. The story alternates between present and flash-back storytelling which demands a little focus and in the beginning a little confusing about why Ann reacts to some people in a certain way but in the end the pieces of the puzzle come together. Very tense last scenes with the characters of Julie, Ann, workman Nick (Ray Wise) and Dorothy (Heather Langenkamp) all coming together. Also very strong last scene from Dorothy first taking some kind of revenge on her mother and than later at Julie's birthday party now being adopted by Dorothy and seeing her wish granted by having a brother. That reaction of hers and than the expression on her face when a family picture is taken, wow she even shrieks from herself and for the viewer yeah, is the terror really over?
Review of The Butterfly Room
