Donnie Darko doesn’t get along too well with his family, his teachers and his classmates; but he does manage to find a sympathetic friend in Gretchen, who agrees to date him. He has a compassionate psychiatrist, who discovers hypnosis is the means to unlock hidden secrets. His other companion may not be a true ally. Donnie has a friend named Frank – a large bunny which only Donnie can see. When an engine falls off a plane and destroys his bedroom, Donnie is not there. Both the event, and Donnie’s escape, seem to have been caused by supernatural events. Donnie’s mental illness, if such it is, may never allow him to find out for sure.
It can be said that Donnie Darko is the movie event of Generation Y. Every person, younger than me, was talking about this movie. It’s deep, and it speaks to that audience, and for that, this movie has earned a place in the vaults of time.. speaking of time.. SPOILERS HO!!
This is a time travel movie. And, the story of a young man’s journey to understand it. How is it that a plane engine can fall out of the sky and no one knows what plane it belongs to? Who the hell is Frank? And how did Frank get Donnie out of the house? (this is never explained, btw).
Basically, there are two time lines explored.
- The primary theme of the movie. Donnie gets up and follows Frank, and his life is saved.. There is trouble ahead, people get hurt and even killed.
- Donnie stay in bed. And dies. Everyone effected by Donnie, in the first time line, suddenly wakes.. unsure of the future.
So, is the world better off with Donnie dead.. it would seems so. But, that’s what makes the story good. Debate it, have a conversation. This movie has people talking.
