Confusion from the cutting room

Rating: Null/10 (15 July 2004)

The Region 4 DVD release of Donnie Darko contains more compelling material in the "deleted and expanded scenes" section than the feature. Here we find parts of a puzzle that explains much about the probable intentions of the writers and director. What a mess! There are concentric subplots involving a link between Frank the rabbit as a boyfriend of Donnies Sister, discussions over the subtext of Watership Down and some illumination on Karen Pomeroys' deeper beliefs over the misdirection of students by faculty and parents. From the cutting room we are left with an incomplete and oblique story that allows more latitude for the viewer to interpret(or be confused by) the message assumed to be contained therein. This is where I can get off the fence and state clearly that the misuse of common, adolescent male isolation fears and confusion, mixed with some slick "liquid metal" effects and gibberish about portals and time travel does nothing but make Pop-Culture Pulp. Go watch Repo Man or Being John Malkovich for more stylish and capable presentations of similar theories.