Donnie Darko: Unique surrealism at its finest. (directors cut)

Rating: 8/10 (28 October 2019)

Donnie Darko is a film that doesn't shy away from being the 'odd one out'. It's a fully independent film that had a budget of only 4.5 million USD, which for a movie of its size, scope, and magnitude is truly remarkable. For me, Donnie Darko is a film I really couldn't appreciate until the ending. Its uneasy, confusing atmosphere really kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole film.
While watching, I couldn't stand not knowing what was happening underneath the surface and, to be honest, it was quite frustrating. In the middle of the movie I was internally suffering, just as Donnie seemed to be suffering, and that's why the film was so smart. The film did an amazing job of transferring the same feeling of confusion and frustration Donnie felt throughout the movie, right to the viewer. Right when the ending scene with the plane engine crashing through his bedroom ceiling starts it hits you like a tidal wave and you understand it was all worth the wait. The fact that I could have a conversation about this movie for well over an hour after I finished the film is truly a testament to how well it captivated me as a viewer. The way it made me question my own life and think about topics like dealing with mental health in upper middle class suburbia, or the clear political divide in 1980's America is truly amazing and a thing most films can't achieve.
Although this film did a great job at captivating me and making me think about it long after the credits rolled by, I do believe there were some faults. The plot overall seemed convoluted. The reasoning for Donnie to do anything in the film wasn't really explained. It seemed that if he just stayed in bed in the beginning everything could've been avoided, just like the ending. So by the end you felt like your time was wasted a bit, almost as if what you watched didn't really need to happen in the first place. It was definitely an 'a-ha' moment, but a let down nonetheless. There was also a point in the film where I felt the symbolism and imagery was too over the top. I almost felt like if I didn't pause the film and analyze a scene for five minutes I wouldn't be able to understand the movie at all, particularly near the ending of the film. It didn't lessen the impact of the ending for me so much as it was just a frustration while watching the film.
Donnie Darko is truly a strange film. The way It captivated me while viewing while also keeping me in the dark until the ending is a testament to its amazing writing and direction overall. Although there were a few things that brought it down for me, particularly the feeling of needing to over-analyze as if I missed something; Donnie Darko is a must watch for film buffs and non-filmgoers alike. A unique and strange experience, but a good one.