Donnie Darko

 

DIRECTED BY-: 
Richard Kelly

STARRING-: 

Jake Gyllenhaal

Jena Malone

Mary McDonnell

YEAR OF RELEASE-: 

2001

PREMISE-: 

After narrowly escaping a bizarre accident, a troubled teenager is plagued by visions of a man in a large rabbit suit who manipulates him to commit a series of crimes.

It turns out that in order to fully understand ‘Donnie Darko', you have to watch the director's cut AND read a couple of books and articles. 

Now, I am of the firm conviction that a film should be able to stand on its own and should not depend on additional external materials to explain itself. Hence, I would consider the confusing and unexplained narrative that the film presents, especially in the last act, as quite a significant flaw. 

THAT BEING SAID, there was something so peculiarly alluring about the tone and look of the film, the score, the story, the surprising moments of witty humor, and the character of Donnie Darko himself, that I can definitely see why the film has gathered a cult following over the years with so many fan theories and interpretations. 

The way information is shared yet withheld from the audience is so efficient and gripping that the movie leaves you intrigued and curious, not frustrated and lethargic. To be able to pull that off despite having a pretty baffling ending, is an admirable feat, to say the least. 

Jake Gyllenhaal gives an amazing performance and he's certainly the strongest and most impressive element of the film. His character could have come off as one-note or uninteresting on paper but Jake's creepy and sociopathic acting, Donnie's relatable rebellious nature, and the way he retorted back against authority with acuity, made him a character that I wanted to continue observing and studying even after the film was over.

The gloomy, haunting cinematography, the lugubrious background score, some hilarious side-characters, and a competent direction which gave the film a melancholic atmosphere, further helped build a world that I oddly wanted to be a part of. 

I think of all the 'cult classics' that I have seen, 'Donnie Darko' might be one of the special few that’s going to linger on in my mind for many days to come.

RATING -: 6/10