The Butterfly Kisses Movie Review

Butterfly Kisses is based on a true story of passion. A budding director finds a suspicious box of old videotapes revealing a dirty student film project about a legendary urban legend called “Peeping Tom.” As he attempts to prove that the tape is authentic, he gets so involved, and the film crew following behind him. They travel back in time to a slumber party, where young chicks are gathered for some unknown reason. As they discuss their nightly rituals, the director uncovers something more sinister…

A former dancer who now works at a recording studio believes the tape contains evidence of satanic ritualism. She and her boyfriend spend countless hours watching the tapes, and as they analyze the special effects and dark mood, they begin to see an ugly presence. More evidence of depraved behavior surfaces, culminating with the discovery that the tape is not from a public place, but was taken secretly by one of the women at the party. The disturbing evidence leads the filmmaker to confront his erstwhile partner, who confesses he had a relationship with a woman who died several years before, and offered her dying body to a satanic cult in exchange for the filmed footage. Now, faced with accusations of child abuse and satanic ritualism, the filmmakers must work to prove their innocence, while confronting their pasts together.

The movie is quite disturbing, and it is possible to find footage of real orgies being performed (I’m not going to say they were, but you should assume they were). The real strength of the movie comes from its cast, especially Edward Norton, who brings an instinctive sense of creepiness to the role. I would have expected Edward to star in a horror movie such as Hostel, but instead he plays a lead character in a story about people looking to find the truth about the hidden world they inhabit. The Butterfly Kisses is a good, if disturbing, watch.