An instant cult classic

Rating: 7/10 (8 February 2011)

'Donnie Darko' is a deeply complex time travel mystery which will confound and intrigue viewers. It rewards multiple viewings and is ingeniously intricate. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as the titular character, a medicated youth who is suffering delusions. Or is he? Jake, a sleepwalker, is visited by the bizarre vision of a man in a bunny suit. The 'bunny' advises him that the world will end soon. I was expecting the 'bunny' to be a comic figure, but it is actually genuinely frightening.
The great thing about 'Donnie Darko' is that everyone has their own take on the film, and an attendant explanation for the strange goings-on of the narrative. This is a challenging and unusual film which requires a high level of concentration. Who knew that Jake Gyllenhaal and Maggie Gyllenhaal, who plays Donnie's sister, Elizabeth, would go on to become A list stars? As another reviewer observed, you will either love or hate 'Donnie Darko'. It does not give up its secrets easily, and requires work on the part of the viewer. The soundtrack is wonderful, featuring such artists as The Church ('Under the Milky Way'), Echo and the Bunnymen (appropriate!) ('The Killing Moon'), Joy Division ('Love Will Tear Us Apart'), and Gary Jules ('Mad World', originally a hit for British popsters Tears For Fears). The film is set in 1988 and features great period detail.
Personally, I much prefer the theatrical version to the Director's Cut. Ironically, the Director's Cut was meant to explain things that were not clear in the theatrical version. I found it even more confusing! 'Donnie Darko' embraces a strange and troubled character. The hero of the film is not some Hollywood cliché, but a possibly delusional young man who is witty and immediately likable. A great performance from Jake, as usual. If you are looking for something superficial and easy to follow, then you have come to the wrong place! But if you are willing to concentrate and take a strange, unpredictable journey, you will definitely be rewarded.