The Last Temptation of Donnie Darko (possible spoilers)

Rating: 10/10 (13 March 2003)

I recently watched this film at my friend's house. I didn't expect much but I was, to say the least, surprised. The film follows Donnie Darko, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, over a period of 28 days as he confronts bizarre visions of rabbit and falls in love with a girl, played by Jena Malone. According to the rabbit, the world will end in these 28 days and Donnie begins to see signs that the rabbit may be telling the truth. The plot get more complicated as the movie continues but there is one important theme. In the middle of the movie, Donnie and his girlfriend go to see Evil Dead on theater. The director, Richard Kelly, focuses on another film playing at the theater, Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ. Kelly doesn't just show this title by accident; he's hinting to the theme and message of his film. In Scorsese's film, Jesus receives a vision of what his life would be like if he hadn't died on the cross. Donnie Darko, like Jesus, receives a similar vision. He sees how important his death is to everyone else's life. Kelly's addition of The Last Temptation of Christ shows that Donnie Darko isn't another thriller, it's a film with a lot to say.