For some reason, Donnie Darko is a film that I chose to elude many times over. It was not that it triggered any indifference or emitted any bad vibes; it was just that once within the walls of a rental store, my interest was always drawn elsewhere.
I honestly cannot remember how many times I walked into my local Blockbuster, passed the D’s in the drama section, and locked eyes with Donnie Darko. Its black and blue cover always seemed to draw my attention and give rise to my wonder. I must have read both the front and back covers ten times or more before finally clutching a copy in hand, striding up to the register to pay, and exiting without a second thought. Finally, three years after its initial release and two years after it was originally recommended to me (by two different people on two different occasions), I can say without one ounce of hesitation, that Donnie Darko is a surefire contemporary classic that should not be avoided by any means.
From first time writer and director Richard Kelly comes a film that took five years in the making. With its in-depth and intellectual storyline – all underneath the label of a psychological thriller – Donnie Darko creates an experience that is unforgettable and reaches a level that is unquestionably paramount. It’s an unconventional picture, and it’s an amazing achievement under such a low budget. Donnie Darko indubitably rises to the top in its genre.
Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a textbook troubled teen growing up in the 80’s. He is a very inquisitive and likeable guy, yet underneath, he has emotional problems. Donnie sees a psychiatrist (Katherine Ross) weekly and has been on prescribed medication for quite some time. Just after Donnie takes his pills the night of October 2, 1988, he begins to envision a six-foot tall demonic-looking bunny rabbit named Frank. The rabbit wakes Donnie in the middle of the night and instructs him to follow him outside. After he leads Donnie to a golf course, Frank tells him that the world will end in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds. Donnie passes out and wakes up startled the next morning on a plush green. He then travels back to his house to discover that while he was gone, a jet engine fell from the sky and crashed into his bedroom. Upon his return his family is comforted to see him, but is also concerned about where he was during the night.
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
I finally watched this film for the first time last week, and I was surprised by how much I liked it.
The time travel stuff is even more full of holes than time travel scenarios in movie usually are, but it works because the director never relies on it. It's a movie about the characters and about choices more than science-wizardry, and it works very well on that score.
2 - Chris Beaumont
Don't forget the director's cut, which is supposed to fill some of those holes. I have both, but have not yet watched the DC.
3 - Phillip Winn
I think that the one I watched was the director's cut. I can't really describe the issues without spoiling the movie, though.
4 - Tan The Man
I thought that the movie didn't really make any sense. I felt that there were too many holes, but I hear the director's cut brings a lot more coherency and consistency to the movie. I should reserve final judgment.
5 - todd
DD is pretty cool, but its more of a series of memorable images and phrases than a comprehensive movie that goes from point a to point b.
That is, if you are execting a plot, forget it, but if you like atmospherics, its great
6 - Mike Slag
I did not get this movie, whatsoever. I mean, i watch movies all the time, and I'm a film major, but, I thought this was stupid and the ending was the dumbest thing in the world. that is all. Good day.
7 - brrrmurrrr
I understood this movie perfectly, it's well scripted, I think it just showed how insane this played out world is, to the ones that haven't already seen it. It's a great movie.
8 - Tan The Man
Maybe you just understood the movie's incoherence... btw... where you watching the edited or director's cut of the film?
9 - Brandon Valentine
I prefer the original over the more-informative director's cut; the original may be a little more confusing - considering the universes aren't directly described - but it is more airtight and majestic.
If you don't "get" the film after viewing: chew on this...it's the best explanation I can muster.
WARNING....THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There are two universes involved. In the primary universe, an unexplained jet engine crashes through the Darko roof. Because it passes through Donnie’s bedroom (and therefore certainly would him), prior to this a tangent universe is created"specifically for Donnie (by God, personified by the guiding bunny) to become aware of the results of his death. Donnie learns, through this alternate existence, that his survival of the engine crash results in the death of his girlfriend, mother, and sister"through a sequential series of events. At the culmination of these events, Donnie makes the decision to save the lives of those he loves by sacrificing himself. Donnie lays there laughing comforted by his decision; he now knows that his death (and life) served a purpose. He had to die when the plane engine crashes into his house (at the beginning of the movie) to save the lives of his girlfriend (which he never would have met) and his mother and sister (who would not have been on the plane). Frank was sent by God to remove Donnie from his bedroom to show him what would have happened to those around him if he lived.
10 - Katie Thompson
I love this film. I am fascinated by it. I didn't understand it when I first watched it though, but I've been watching it again and again, and looking at some websites and I think I understand it better now
WARNING... SPOILERS
Frank isn't a depiction of God, nor is he a bunny rabbit. He is a Manipulated Dead, a being who dies in the Tangent Universe,whilst helping the Living Reciever(Donnie) send the Artifact(the Jet Engine)back to the real world. In the real world, Frank is Donnie's older sister Elizabeth's boyfriend.Gretchen Ross is also a Mnipulated Dead, she is killed when Frank runs her down, joyriding in a drunken state. He was wearing a bunny suit, which he made specially for Hallow'een. Donnie, angry for him at killing Gretchen, shoots him in the eye(now you no why Frank had a bloody eye at the cinema, and why when Madworld by Gary Jules was playing, when the Manipulated Living and the Manipulated Dead were waking up from the Tangent Universe, he was stroking his eye, remembering it had been bleeding)