Butterfly Kiss
Butterfly Kiss
| 18 August 1995 (USA)
Butterfly Kiss Trailers

Deeply mentally unbalanced drifter Eunice roams grim northern Britain committing psychosexual serial murders of both men and women while ostensibly searching for an unknown woman named Judith. She spares the life of lonely but kind-hearted gas station cashier Miriam, who abandons her dismal life to follow her damaged new lover. While attempting to hide the evidence of her multiple crimes, Miriam tries to understand Eunice's bizarre quest.

Reviews
pointyfilippa The movie runs out of plot and jokes well before the end of a two-hour running time, long for a light comedy.
mraculeated The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.
Griff Lees Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.
Gary The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.
Shadowplayed Eunice: "People that nobody loves always end up killing someone, even if it's just themselves". Miriam: "Oh, I see...." Eunice is young, deranged woman, wandering along gray English highways, looking for a girl named Judith. She tries to find a record with a love song, but can't remember the words...just a piano part. We later learn it's Singing for England, England..."song about love", as she kept repeating. By pure chance, deranged and dangerous, she met young gas station clerk, Miriam. They clicked immediately. From this point on, Miriam - model daughter and humble small time girl - falls for Eunice's charm...and things go terribly wrong.The dynamics between two women is strange and can be seen as an abusive relationship. Miriam is submissive, totally succumbed in what will prove to be a complete life changing experience.Saskia Reeves (Miriam) gave excellent performance, but, let's face it - brilliant Amanda Plummer (Eunice) steals the show!Plummer is fascinating in this role: threatening, full on crazy, dominant with distinct will and determination. Ravages through this film like a force of nature. But, what is Eunice looking for? I think she felt abandoned, testing the limits of evil she can inflict, before God intervenes and punishes her for her sins. But the guy above might just be too indifferent, or otherwise engaged.Miriam is strangely lured to Eunice, trying to help her and perhaps make her see the good in herself. Although she appears irrational, Eunice has this strange understanding of things, warped yet somehow precise ability to read people. She said to Miriam: "You think you can make me good? I'll make you evil before you make me good". What is butterfly kiss? It's a gentle act of affection. Hard to find anything gentle about this story, unless you read between the lines but they are blurred.90's brought us some very interesting cinema that goes against the grain. Especially indie drama Brits do so well. The cinematography is realistic, there's lack of sentimentality in harsh urban setting. Nihilism and spleen are dragged into spotlight, and Butterfly Kiss delivers these qualities in spades. Such a gem, wonderful and unjustly overlooked film.
pwb53 I found 'Butterfly Kiss' to be at once sad and horrifying, and a story of both love and hate. It drew from me feelings of empathy for the characters of Eunice (Eu)and Miriam (Mi), and revulsion for the acts of horror which mark their journey. Is this a love story where everyone else and everything else is disregarded for the sake of Eunice's relentless search for love, fulfillment, punishment, Judith? Or is this an observation of the torment of a schizophrenic woman? So much here to involve you and that will stay with you long after. The bleak northern England setting matches the mood of the movie perfectly, and the story shows Eu and Mi's journey and relationship but cleverly leaves much of it a mystery, but what really makes this special is the outstanding performance from Amanda Plummer as Eunice.
prohibited-name-1770 the only redeeming feature of this film is the fact that it ends, so that you can move on to find something that might further approximate entertainmentit's kinda like - if mike leigh took acid and somehow fused an episode of eastenders with thelma and louise - all set to a soundtrack of bjerk and the gooseberriesavoid this film - in the same way that winterbottom clearly avoids narrative, style, and his own testicles :)detestable, abominable, embarrassing and s***e
louise kelly One of the most memorable movies I've ever had the fortunate experience of picking up at a video rental store. It exposed me to one of the best actresses of the 20th., and now 21st. Century: Amanda Plummer. My praise of this film does not finish with Ms.Plummer's believable portrayal of this intense, psychotic young woman. Being an ex-patriot (as they say), I could even smell the petrol (gasoline) fumes. I felt as though I were 'Up North'. It's not a pretty picture! It's certainly not one to be missed by any serious film (noir) lover. You might also check out 'Heavenly Creatures' 1994.