Mind Distortion

Rating: 6/10 (22 October 2018)

Have you ever watched something that left your mind so distorted you felt confused for the rest of the night? Donnie Darko will leave you dazed and confused until your second screening, and even then, you might still be slightly confused. Young Jake Gyllenhaal does a very good job at keeping the audience attached to his character. Throughout the entire movie, you feel for Donnie Darko's problems with his family and his social life. At first everything seems really strange and bizarre, then the film progresses, and everything still seems very strange and bizarre, but you can't help but watch because you want to know what Donnie is going to do next. Unfortunately, this senseless wondering never ends, and Donnie's decision making never really makes any sense. However, that's what makes this film so enthralling, and its what draws the audience into the film itself. You never truly learn what is wrong with Donnie, but the twist that occurs in the movie makes you wonder, if there is actually something wrong with him. Donnie is a troubled young man whose parents' solution to his troubles never really solve any of his problems. He may be a misunderstood child, but he may also be a teenager with a serious illness in need of professional help. Fortunately, Donnie finds a companion that he can find solace in. This companion ultimately helps Donnie find his way and affects his decision making. Without this companion, Donnie would have remained a lost and crazed individual. This film is not for the light-hearted viewer. Donnie Darko may remain a mystery to the relaxed viewer, but will be an astonishing inquiry into the mind of a troubled teenager.