a haunting, genre bending masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (24 November 2002)

On registering my vote for this film I noted with disbelief that a small minority of viewers had rated it as a 1. The most likely cause of this is the confusion caused by the lack of answers to the myriad of puzzles that the film provides. However it is this very ambiguity which adds depth to the film, forcing us to think hard to decipher the labyrinth of themes that we are presented with. The complex plot subverts genre as it tracks the delusions of the titular anti-hero, Donnie Darko, a disaffected, schizophrenic teenager in late 1980s America. One of Donnie's visions caused by his illness is of a giant demon rabbit called Frank who saves his life before telling him that the world is soon going to end. Donnie is then forced by Frank to perform tasks for him as we count down the days until the apocalypse. Here begins an engrossing discourse on fear, destiny, time travel, society and the complexity of life (something that those confused 1 star voters missed) that manages to capture the horror of Donnie's mind and yet is both darkly comic and emotionally engaging. This is in part down to Jake Gyllenhaal who is fantastic as Donnie, instilling in his odd ball character a sympathetic side to counteract his weirdness and alienation. Newcomer Kelly's direction creates a film that looks superb and has an eerie feel to it. These qualities, aided by the fact that we are never sure of ourselves during and after the movie, create a film that keeps you thinking and haunts you long after it has ended.