Donnie Darko

Donnie Darko



Richard Kelly was only 27 years old when he directed Donnie Darko, five years after completing film school. Talk about your fast track to success. Not only that, but his film became a cult favourite among true movie geeks and spawned a UK christmas number one. But like Tyrell says in Blade Runner, “The light that burns twice as bright burns for half as long - and you have burned so very, very brightly” (Nice segue there). That's the reason, in my meagre opinion, Kelly hasn't done anything credible since.

Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a complex character living in a complex world. He is visited by a six foot grotesque bunny rabbit, who may or may not be a figment of his imagination, and encouraged to commit crimes. His shrink gives him more pills and his family deepen their concern.

The whole story is played out on the background of a 1980's high school at which Donnie is a pupil. Not only must he contend with his nightmarish 'delusions', but he has to deal with the everyday consternations of being a teenager. He has a crush on the new girl Gretchen (Jena Malone) and problems with the school bullies (One of them looks suspiciously like Seth Rogen).

He slowly discovers that his visions are more than a mental aberration, but, in fact, messages from the future, warning of an impending apocalypse. The crimes he's told to commit have underlying reason too, such as uncovering a life-coach's (Patrick Swayze) kiddie porn dungeon.

At the end, Donnie is left with a choice to make as all the threads of the story come together and make sense. Can he sacrifice himself for the people he loves?

Kelly has said in interviews that his film is open to interpretation; Everyone views it differently. The first time I saw it at the pictures, my interpretation was sheer befuddlement. The film seemed to simply stop without any explanation as to what the hell it was all for. The whole way home I discussed it with my girlfriend, but neither of us could work it out.

It took repeat viewings and internet research to eventually uncover the looped time-warp 'Last Temptation of Christ' design of the story. But once you grasp the idea, it suddenly becomes your film because you're one of the few that understands it. It takes on a deeper level of emotional resonance when you've realised what Donnie had to do to become the hero.

The acting is top quality for such a low-budget Indie movie, launching the careers of brother and Sister Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Their constant verbal sparring was much more organic because they most likely practised it growing up. Patrick Swayze and Drew Barrymore give the film some star power, but never intrude upon the central characters, or outshine them.

Richard Kelly recently made a similar film in the form of Southland Tales. While it's time travelling and labyrinthine story qualifies it as the product of Kelly's chaotic imagination, it doesn't come anywhere near the greatness of his début. It seems his is a talent fizzling out.

Verdict 10 /10
Let's hope the forthcoming sequel doesn't piss on a contemporary classic.