A promising story tarnished

Rating: 7/10 (14 December 2007)

When i sat down to watch Donnie Darko i wasn't sure what to expect. I'd heard it had a huge cult following and was about time travel but bar that i was in the dark.
As the film cracked open it was clear to me why the movie's got such a cult following. It's just not really what you're used to seeing in a film. Donnie is a bright but moody teenager who also happens to be very likable, in itself an unusual thing as such potentially re-hashed characters rarely come off well. Donnie's dad is another superb character who will crack anyone up as he fails to reprimand his children after making up brilliant new swears. Actually i'd say the best thing the film has to offer is a shed load of impressively quirky and original characters.
Also if you're into a bit of a mystery thriller (like myself) then Darko will have you by the short and curlys. With weird numbers and stranger people turning up left right and centre you can't help but wonder how everything will end up fitting together... sadly that's where the film falls on its ass.
Maybe the promising start raised my expectations to high, but those of you hoping for an intriguing ending will be greatly disappointed. I won't go and spoil you but suffice to say things are answered in the one of the blandest and least satisfying ways possible. Another niggling problem for me is how alike the film is to Butterfly Effect (or vice versa as this was made before Butterfly). Both films look set to be time travel thrillers and end up as dark comedies revolving around a mentally unstable young man. The thing is The Butterfly Effect really gets the ending (in the directors cut anyway) right. It just works. Unfortunately Darko's ending feels unpleasant and rushed.
But i think really you've got to decide for yourself whether the poor ending makes up for the otherwise brilliant performances put in by all involved.
At the end of the day i had to gun for a 7/10 a cracking story spoiled by a badly formed ending.