A Stunning Debut

Rating: 8/10 (13 July 2002)

Richard Kelly's stunning debut about a paranoid schizophrenic teenager who is haunted by a 6-foot evil-faced rabbit named Frank who commands him to do things and gives him horrifying glimpses of the future is not for everyone. But film buffs who like to be surprised and wowed and don't settle for pat nice little stories (and endings, and wow, this has one doozy of an ending every bit as mind blowing as say a "Mulholland Drive" or "Memento" or "Twelve Monkeys"), should be overwhelmingly delighted by this film. Richard Kelly directs with a sure hand and maverick mind. He fully creates and realizes a truly unique and thrilling universe for his characters and images to inhabit, and once he creates the rules (which might not make sense in the real world, but make perfect sense in the fantasy world he creates for us), he never breaks those rules (a true test of great entertainment/cinema/literature that portrays fantasy or dreams) and takes us on one hell of a ride. If you like to watch cult movies then behold "Donnie Darko" and you will not be disappointed (and maybe up all night thinking about it afterwards).