Yojimbo's Movie Review of Donnie Darko

Rating of
4/4

Donnie Darko

"Donnie Darko" by Yojimbo
Yojimbo - wrote on 02/23/12

Emotionally disturbed high school student Donnie Darko narrowly avoids death when a six foot rabbit called Frank lures him from his bedroom and tells him that the world is going to end in 28 days. Donnie Darko is one of those films that deeply divides its audience as it is most definitely not for everyone, leaving much of what occurs open to the viewer's own interpretation. My own personal spin is that it is the anti-Capra; "It's A Miserable Life" if you will. Donnie is given a snapshot into the what the world would be like if he continued to be in it, and he doesn't like what he sees. A dark fantasy that makes Tim Burton's visions look like Mary Poppins, it's Back To The Future made by David Lynch. It was the film that catapulted an intense Jake Gillenhaal to stardom as well as revitalising the then flagging career of Drew Barrymore as one of the few free thinking figures in this book-censoring, self-help obsessed little community (not to mention managing the astonishing feat of making Tears For Fears cool). With many haunting images and a brilliantly oppressive soundtrack, Donnie Darko is not the kind of film that spoonfeeds you its concepts and anyone looking for a diagram explaining all and tying everthing up in a nice happy ending should look elsewhere. Donnie Darko is weird. That was a compliment.

Recent Comments

Daniel Corleone - wrote on 03/01/12 at 11:35 AM CT

Donnie Darko Review comment

Agreed. This is one of my faves. So many symbolism's and themes that you can catch more in repeat viewings. Supporting cast were awesome as well.

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