Portals, also known as the gateways to various dimensions in time, have been used numerous amounts of times in Hollywood productions. Their appeal lies in the intrigue of time travel - a concept that mankind wishes they had a grasp of. Yet as episodes of Outer Limits and The Simpsons including movies like The Butterfly Effect suggest; changing aspects of time will lead to a dramatic cause and effect situation.
In the Simpson’s Treehouse of Horror V plotline, Homer Simpson travels through time using nothing more than a common household toaster. Whatever he changes in the past has a direct effect on the future, including stepping on prehistoric plants and animals. This particular episode shares a connection with that of the Outer Limits, particularly an episode entitled ‘Stitch in Time’. In this plotline a disturbed scientist invents a time machine to allow her the ability to kill serial killers before they commit their first crimes.
Other movies like Donnie Darko and as mentioned The Butterfly Effect strive for a more disturbing view of time travel as opposed to lighter comedies like Back to the Future. In Darko, a teenager living in the mid-80s escapes a near-death encounter when a jet engine crashes into his room. Eventually a human-sized rabbit visits his daydreams, foretelling the apocalypse. Donnie is instructed by his rabbit informer to wreak havoc on his town affecting members of the town’s population.
In Butterfly Effect a group of pre-teens are the cause behind a tragic event which changes their fate forever. That is until Evan Treborn figures out he can travel to various points in time by reading entries in his journal of that particular event. Despite his attempts to fix the past, he ultimately causes more damage in the long run including causing more damage to his circle of friends.
Last night I dreamed I was a butterfly…or……..am I a butterfly dreaming I am a man?
Either way, it’s just creepy.
creepy Dad!
or is it the brownies your eating?