The Butterfly Effect (2004)

"The Butterfly Effect" is considered to be Ashton Kutcher first non-comedic role and he does a wonderful job of not being funny. "The Butterfly Effect" is more science-fiction than horror but it is 100 percent a thrilling psychological trip. The subject matter, especially the events that take place during the main characters youth are dark and disturbing, which keep the movie serious and thoroughly grounded. Even though the film was panned by critics, it was still considered to be a box office success and proved to the masses that Kutcher was able to carry a film that wasn't a comedy. The film co-stars Amy Smart, an actor who has also been primarily seen in romantic comedies. Eric Stoltz has a small role as well, revisiting the horror genre after appearing "The Fly 2" and dark films like "Killing Zoe".

The film follows Evan Treborn (Ashton Kutcher) and several key events in his life that he has no memory of. To try to overcome his blackouts, Evan begins keeping a journal to help him remember. The events are traumatic and effect everyone involved including Evan, and his friends Lenny, Kayleigh, and her violent brother Tommy. The events include Evan's father trying to kill him when he comes to visit at a mental institution, a prank that kills an innocent mother and her infant, and even darker moments. Evan ends up moving away with his mom and grows up to be a successful college student. By accident, Evan discovers that he can go back in time, retaining his all of his knowledge, and change the events that occurred when he read from his old journals. This is a trait that both his father and grandfather had; it's also why they were both eventually deemed crazy by those around them. Having noble intentions of saving Kayleigh from the grief of their shared childhood, Even goes back in time and tries to adjust the events so that they wouldn't have a traumatic outcome. Unfortunately, every attempt ends in more tragedy and every time he tries to adjust the past, his brain hemorrhages more and more until he's at death's door....