One of the most unique and moving directorial debuts since Sam Mendes with American Beauty.

Rating: 8/10 (29 March 2002)

The first film for Richard Kelly this is a very original screenplay about a young man played by Jake Gyllenhall who although very intelligent also mentally unstable. At first glimpse of this movie you see the distraught and confused awakening of Donnie Darko. He is forced to visit with a psychiatrist by his parents. The mother has a little bit of her son in her, smart and not afraid to provide a sarcastic comment here or there. The father is basically normal, interested in his job and politics but snickers at most swear words said by his children. Sibling rivalry exists between Donnie and His sister (actual brother or sister), which doesn't seem all that realistic but it doesn't really hurt the film. One night after having arguments with the family Donnie is woken by a large bunny named Frank. He is engrossed by the rabbit to a golf course where he has a conversation with him and as the story progresses keeps coming to him. Frank starts to tell Donnie to commit crimes and Donnie does all of the things Frank Tells him.
What i thought the most interesting part of this movie was the real vision of the human mind and the thought of being happy. Although you walk away confused, happy, sad, mad or whatever you may feel it does change you. Some might speculate on the end for quite some time because, it doesn't really provide much closure of any kind and doesn't clearly show what Donnie wants. I gave it a 8/10 for its rare tenderness and vision of reality.