Donnie Darko (2004)

It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

This is ultimately a movie about the very bad things that can happen when we don't address our unease, when we just try to brush it off, whether that's to fit in or to preserve our self-image.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

I have come to the conclusion that this is just another accidentally good movie (check the director's other movies if you doubt it). In my opinion, using time loops and everything related to time loops in a movie, is cheating - if it's done right and without errors, it's almost impossible not to be a good movie. This movie is not really about time traveling; it's actually about alternate universes. Just to make sure you got it, Donnie is NOT a hero, he's just a victim; he's used as an agent of entropy; the question is who is behind all this? Maybe one or more superior omnipresent entities that reign over the multiverse, or it's just the autoregulation of the space-time continuum, in order to avoid paradoxes, but more importantly, avoiding the destruction of the whole multiverse. The large bunny rabbit is actually a good "mask" for the movie and it's used in order to distract your attention from what's really important. Donnie is manipulated and controlled in a specific way, leading him to a certain set of events (he thinks he can make choices but he can't). The director's cut version explains everything pretty well. But, here's a friendly advice: watch the normal cut first (it's much better); the director's cut contains many unnecessary scenes. The movie is also good because it combines many genres: drama, mystery, fantasy, some sci-fi moments, it's psychological, it even manages to be a teen movie and it also has some subtle horror reminiscences. It's a movie that makes you use your imagination! Note to self: I'm a little disappointed that at the end of the movie, it wasn't used the original "Mad world" song (performed by Tears for fears).

I enjoyed the film, it did a lot of interesting twists. It was quite slow at some parts. I will not go in detail in this review, I just wanted to talk about it. I felt that this film needs to be seen twice, or maybe even three times. The ending was weird, in the way that it supports multiple theories. I enjoyed the film, but I honestly don't feel like I've missed something. It was still a funny, and creepy film, and I really like this type of "horror", as I see this as an atmospheric horror film. It is also a pshycological thriller, a drama-thriller, etc. etc. But all in all, I enjoyed it. I would view it again. but it won't be in the near future, maybe in October, when I view a bunch of horror/thriller films.

If only this fantastic film was to be turned into a TV Series! Would need quite a bit of effort to get the casting right. With all the original actors now aged it'd need to be re-cast. But am I the only one that sees brilliant potential for a newly written TV Series? Surely the fan-base is already there?

Created by first time director, Richard Kelly, Donnie Darko is a sci-fi thriller, released in 2001. It follows teenager Donnie Darko through high school, family life, romance, and parallel universes. Set in the late 80s in a small town in Virginia, Donnie Darko showcases a troubled but intelligent young man grappling with high school bullies, an inability to fit in, and apparent schizophrenia. Upon brushing with death in a bizarre and secretive accident, Donnie is haunted by visions of a man in an eerie rabbit costume. Donnie is pushed to commit crimes, uncovering dark secrets of the town, leading to a larger conspiracy. Time travel, black holes, and alternate universes are woven into the story, leading Donnie to learn more about the unusual happenings of the town. A plethora of interesting characters are featured in the film, brought to life by the star-studded cast, including Jake Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, and Patrick Swayze. The dark subject matter of the film is contrasted by the comic relief put forth by many of the characters. Witty dialogue touches on political issues, mental health struggles, and teenage angst. The characters become increasingly self-aware as the plot thickens, guiding Donnie on his journey to sacrifice and salvation. The soundtrack, possibly the best part of the film, creates a dark and horrific tone like none other. Excellent use of new wave brings to life the 80s high school vibes in the movie. The somber ending is also perfectly captured using Gary Jules' Mad World. The soundtrack in Donnie Darko is used to not only used to develop setting and time period, but evoke deep emotion in the audience. Donnie Darko is a phenomenal film, telling stories of heroism and bravery. The characters' ability to recognize that things are not always as they seem make for a unique plot line. Each watch offers a new perspective on the film. The audience will discover new meanings each time the film is consumed.