DONNIE DARKO

Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal) is an agressive and troubled teenager who keeps refusing to take his medication. He lives in a suburban town with his caring family: his father, Eddie (Holmes Osborne), his mother, Rose (Mary McDonnell), his older sister, Elizabeth (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and his younger sister, Samantha (Daveigh Chase).

But one night will change Donnie’s life forever after he cheats death by sleepwalking out of his room before a jet-engine crashes into it. After he sleepwalks out of his room, he sees a giant bunny rabbit that tells him the world will end in 28 days. During these 28 days, Donnie becomes fond of his classmate, Gretchen (Jena Malone) but Donnie also becomes more troubled after each day passes by.

Although Donnie Darko wasn’t succesful in the cinema, it at least became a success when it was released onto VHS and DVD. In other words, it is a cult film – and it’s an amazing one.

Donnie Darko is part of the sci-fi genre, since part of the film’s main focus is on time travel. This aspect of the film plays a huge part in the movie’s very thought provoking ending, which I can’t give away.

The characters are also quite possibly the most interesting aspect of this movie. A lot of them don’t appear to be all that normal, including some of the characters who are kind on the outside but on the inside they are not all that innocent. It is also interesting to see Donnie’s psychological journey as we see his mental state worsen. His hallucinations are also quite visually amazing.

Jake Gyllenhaal’s portrayal of the disturbed Donnie is great. It is so easy for the viewer to understand the disturbed person that he is, even through his subtle facial expressions. Such as his haunting smile that symbolises all of his happiness and joy. 

Donnie Darko’s soundtrack is brilliant, containing songs like Head over Heals by Tears for Fears, Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division and most notably, Mad World by written by Roland Orzabal and performed by Gary Jules and Michael Andrews.

To put it simply, Donnie Darko is great cinema. It may not be everyone but it is strongly recommended that you should seek it out.

5 arguments over the dinner table out of 5