Mind-boggling

Rating: 9/10 (14 October 2004)

After my first viewing of this film I must say I was baffled (but in a good way). A further five successive viewings over the following weeks and I was still baffled. I searched in vein for someone to fathom a viable explanation for the disjointed finale of the film.
Donnie Darko is a perturbed, sordid tale about a boy who is doomed (i won't elaborate on this, so as not to spoil the film). The film is interspersed with light humour throughout, this makes it enjoyable viewing time and again (although I don't recommend more than five sittings in under one month). The problem with this film, in a similar was to 'Mullholland Drive' by David Lynch, is that it is mysterious and misleading. On one hand 'Donnie Darko' is seemingly science fiction and geared towards time-travel. On the other hand it seems that the film is exploring the religious insight regarding life and death.
This is what i loved about the film - you never really know what the theme is, but all the same it is intriguing due to the classy direction of Richard Kelly. The cast all put in excellent performances, so convincing in fact that i believed that none of them really knew what the theme of the film was. I have never seen a film like this before. It blew me away and made me want to watch it over and over. I don't usually watch a film more than once, so that must mean something.
9/10