28 Days... six hours... 42 minutes... 12 seconds

Rating: 9/10 (22 September 2005)

Donnie Darko, a film set in angst-ridden suburbia gives a village almost like an 80's Stepford but with secrets, is one that leads you to question all conventions and boundaries set by films at this moment. As always, the change comes from an unknown, Richard Kelly who wrote and directed, with some minor parts in the editing and camera work suite too.
The film itself, throws up questions, mainly existential theories such as everybody dies alone, but never actually answers any. Many would see this as a downfall to a film, but when done outside of the typical Hollywood formulaic style it works amazingly well. It throws you a resolution that doesn't give a full equilibrium, it more leaves you confused as to what went on, and leaves you wanting to know even more about this film.
Jake Gyllenhaal makes a big statement about his abilities in this film, taking the seemingly 'super hero' named character of which the film is named. An ever so slightly sociopathic schizophrenic with a tendency to sleep walk. Gyllenhaal manages to take on such a crazed, scared yet unfearful character with aplomb without dropping anything about the subconscious of Donnie himself.
The plot comes as hard thinking as they come. It normally lose everyone on the first watch, and the second too. It gives everyone the sense of loss of mind and sends you home re-thinking every minute detail over and over, drawing you away from the bigger picture which itself gives away all the imagery you need to see to figure the plot is not actually that testing, just a science fiction film set in an all too familiar suburban town. They key words for the film is the single quote that gives the film away, creation through destruction.