Dark and Twisted

Rating: 6/10 (1 May 2011)

This movie is about a boy who is dealing with a very vivid imagination and what seem to be mental problems. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Donnie Darko who throughout the movie is coerced into doing things by a 6ft. tall rabbit named Frank. In the beginning of the movie Frank tells Donnie to follow him and ends up saving his life because while Donnie is following Frank a jet engine crashes into Donnie's bedroom where he should have been. Donnie's survival triggers a snowball effect. He feels that he must listen to what Frank tells him because he saved his life.
This movie was not the type of movie that I usually enjoy. For me, it was hard to follow and figure out what was going on. Sometimes those turn out to be the best kinds of movies but this one did not stir up any emotion from me. It almost reminded me of the Butterfly Effect in the fact that with one alteration all of fate was changed. This was not apparent until the very end of the movie when everything came together.
The techniques that were used to shoot this movie I felt were very gracefully done. For as dark and depressing as this movie was, the angles and scenes were very fluid and elegant. The lighting throughout the movie also assisted in creating this effect. For example almost is every scene of Ms. Pomeroy's classroom the lighting seemed very hopeful; whereas for example in Dr. Thurman's office scenes it was always dark outside thus illustrating the darkness within Donnie.
I can see why this movie would be enjoyed by so many people but personally it didn't do anything for me. At the end of the movie I found myself to feel more down than I did the whole time I was watching it, which is hard for me to imagine. I went into watching this movie with an open mind and actually very excited due to the great cast that was in it. Without using too much of a spoiler, the end really makes you think how that city was better off. With Donnie alive and following the advice of Frank or dead. It also made me wonder what reality was real. Did he imagine all of those things in a dream and then really die or did he go to sleep and dream that he died that day. I think that is the main reason for my review being so negative. When I am done watching a movie I like to feel closure, not be left with more questions.