Film Review: Donnie Darko (2001)

The term "cult film" has been so overused that it has lost much of its original meaning. However, one film that could fit the original criteria for such a status is the Donnie Darko, a 2001 science fiction drama directed by Richard Kelly.

The plot begins on 2nd October 1988 in a suburb called Middlesex. The protagonist, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, is Donnie Darko, a teenager whose middle-class family is, like the rest of the nation, divided over the upcoming presidential election between George H. W. Bush and Michael Dukakis. This, however, doesn't seem to concern Donnie, because he suffers from sleepwalking and strange visions of a giant rabbit named Frank (played by James Duval). Frank tells Donnie that the world will end in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds. Donnie takes this very seriously when his bedroom gets hit by a passenger jet engine that has inexplicably fallen from the sky. While his family and the rest of the community try to grapple with this bizarre incident, Donnie tries to live a normal life, which includes meeting and starting a relationship with Gretchen Ross (played by Jena Malone), a newly arrived girl at the school. Donnie is a bright student, although rebellious in nature, which brings him into conflict with some of the teachers. Donnie's family, including his sister, Elizabeth (played by Maggie Gyllenhaal), and his parents (played by Holmes Osborne and Mary McDonnell), are concerned about his mental health. Donnie is attending therapy sessions with Dr. Thurman (played by Katharine Ross), but her efforts prove fruitless and, as the date approaches, his visions intensify, with Frank leading Donnie to commit seemingly senseless acts of vandalism.

One of the most interesting things about Donnie Darko is its blend of genres. The film functions as a science fiction thriller, with Donnie's visions and the looming threat of the end of the world creating a sense of tension and unease. It is also a psychological drama, as Donnie struggles with his mental health and tries to make sense of his visions. Additionally, Donnie Darko is a nostalgic remembrance of the 1980s, making Kelly's film one of the first to treat the era as a period piece.

This was the feature debut for Kelly, but you couldn't tell based on the quality of his direction. He puts relatively modest resources to good use, with Steven Posner's cinematography, clever use of the widescreen format, and CGI effects very much like those introduced in The Abyss making the film look epic. Despite the film's relatively low budget, Kelly's resourcefulness is evident in his decision to have characters of high school students wear uniforms instead of 1980s period clothes his production could not afford in sufficient numbers.

The casting in Donnie Darko is also excellent. Jake Gyllenhaal excels in one of his most iconic roles, playing a protagonist who is both a rebellious young intellectual, a confused teenager, and what appears to be a paranoid schizophrenic. The rest of the cast is also excellent, with Kelly deliberately making the film an ensemble piece built around a large canvas of different, unusual but memorable characters. Some cast members play against type, most notably Patrick Swayze, who plays one of the sleaziest characters, and Katharine Ross, who plays a confused psychotherapist.

The film's soundtrack is also a significant factor in its popularity. The soundtrack is built around 1980s pop, with a cover of "Mad World" by Tears for Fears being the most popular. However, this has also made the original soundtrack by Michael Andrews sound unremarkable.

Kelly's script is rich but can be confusing at times. The film's attempts to give the events in the film some "deep" philosophical or pseudo-religious meaning or para-scientific explanation can also make it look a little bit too pretentious.

The cult status of Donnie Darko was, ironically, secured by the events that initially destroyed its box office results in North America – the 9/11 attacks. US audiences, still traumatised, at first had little propensity for a film that deals with the aftermath of an air disaster. However, its success was better internationally, and in a year or two, Donnie Darko was recognised as one of the most interesting works among global cinephiles.

In 2004, Kelly released Donnie Darko: Director's Cut, a new version with an extra 20 minutes and an altered soundtrack. There was talk about possible sequels, but Kelly was left out of it. In 2009, a sequel, S. Darko, dealing with the protagonist's younger sister, was released and received critical panning.

The legacy of Donnie Darko can be seen in some popular TV shows that featured time travel or 1980s nostalgia, most notably Stranger Things and, even more explicitly, the renowned German TV show Dark.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)

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