Absolute Masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (30 June 2008)

I gotta say, this film is simply incredible. I have a lot of words that pop into my head when thinking of Donnie Darko. Here are a few: mesmerizing, captivating, unique, intelligent, odd, masterful.
The film is all about a suburban teen in October of 1988 named Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal from Zodiac), who is highly intelligent and a little strange. After cheating death when a jet engine crashes through his bedroom, Donnie begins having visions of a demonic looking rabbit named Frank. Frank shows Donnie visions of the future and sometimes tells him to commit crimes.
Here is the real review: the cast is a whole bunch of stars. You have Drew Barrymore (Scream), Jake Gyllenhaal and Patrick Swayze (Dirty Dancing) that are probably the most well known in the cast. Daveigh Chase (The Ring) and Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Dark Knight) are also in the film. Richard Kelly also makes his directorial debute in this movie and proves to have a true talent for film-making in this strange but very good tale. The character of Donnie Darko is also kind of the male version of Carrie White (from the Stephen King novel and the Brian De Palma film), he is an outcast with a destiny in life.
The film is a good mix of several different genres. The film has the Scifi element of incorporating time travel. It also has a horrific qualities when you see Frank. Also, last but not least, the romance of Donnie and his girlfriend, Gretchen Ross (Jenna Malone).
The bottom line is that Donnie Darko is one great movie. It has a well-deserved cult following. I HIGHLY recommend that you watch it.
10/10