Composite Score: 81.23

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Mary McDonnell, Holmes Osborne, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Daveigh Chase, and Patrick Swayze

Director: Richard Kelly

Writer: Richard Kelly

Genres: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller

MPAA Rating: R for language, some drug use, and violence

Box Office: $6.98 million worldwide

Why should you Watch This Film?

                Donnie Darko is considered by many to be one of the cult classics of the early 2000s. Set in the late 1980s, it serves as a nostalgia-infused psychological thriller, science fiction exploration, and coming of age tale wrapped into one film. Jake Gyllenhaal gives a convincing performance as schizophrenic and highly disagreeable titular character Donnie Darko. His unnerving grin that manifests whenever he sees his “friend” Frank the rabbit elicits late-90s Jim Carey vibes in the most unpleasant of ways. His turn from self-centered and self-serving juvenile delinquent to reluctant and self-sacrificial hero is convincing thanks to Gyllenhaal’s acting despite its seeming contrivance from a story perspective.

Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?

                At times, the protagonist is incredibly difficult to root for. His initial introduction as disrespectful son and jerk brother with a devil-may-care attitude probably played better in the early-2000s but has not necessarily aged well – Donnie and his friends initially are highly reminiscent of the types of people you’d likely find in the deep recesses of Reddit and 4chan in the modern age.

                The story is notoriously difficult to follow, particularly in the final act of the film with many possible interpretations of the ending. This does not necessarily mean that the story is bad, just that it does require some investment on the part of the audience, so if that is not your particular cup of tea, you may want to steer clear.

Another story issue of note is its treatment of its female characters. Donnie’s mom, sisters, and girlfriend seem to lack much agency within the film, which could be an attempt to further explore the concept of agency vs. determination. However, Jena Malone’s Gretchen seems only to exist to help tie Donnie to reality and give him something to care about (objectify?) and ultimately sacrifice himself for. His mother serves a similar role, with Mary McDonnell playing the doting, sometimes overbearing Rose Darko, filling the archetype of both caring mother and mother who does not understand her teen at the same time, without having much influence over the development of the story.

So wait, why should you Watch This Film?

                The treatment of time travel, alternate timelines/universes, and agency vs. determination in this film should probably be enough to warrant a watch for most people interested in such things. It approaches all three concepts from a highly scientific and philosophical standpoint, seeking to explain every aspect of the time travel and alternate universes that the audience witnesses in brief conversations that are only notable on rewatch. Donnie Darko is not a film that you can just watch once and get the fullness of it. It needs rewatching if only to understand the storyline and appreciate its intricacies well (contrived character development notwithstanding).

                The ‘80s nostalgia present throughout the film is also an excellent draw to anyone who appreciates the films of that era. From the simple bunny Halloween costume of Frank to the constant nods to Halloween and other horror, sci-fi, and high school films of the 1980s, it is clear that writer/director Richard Kelly has a great respect and reverence for that era.

                Finally, perhaps my favorite reason to Watch This Film is the private school subplot. Donnie and his younger sister attend a private (probably Christian) school in his hometown, complete with uber-conservative mothers/P.E. coaches, young teachers who want to explore more taboo topics, and a principal that is struggling to maintain a balance between the two. Donnie’s English and science teachers – portrayed by Drew Barrymore and Noah Wyle respectively – serve as some of the more positive influences in his life and are, coincidentally, the younger teachers who want to push the boundaries at a conservative private school. By contrast, his P.E. coach (Beth Grant) is the stuffy, conservative, and demagogue-obsessed woman who most people do not like at all – she’d probably get the “Karen” moniker nowadays, but that’s a little oversimplified. The man that she is obsessed with and brings in to teach seminars to children is Dr. Jim Cunningham (Patrick Swayze), a self-help guru who encourages students to embrace love and reject fear. He also happens to have a sizeable collection of child pornography, which Donnie uncovers over the course of the film, revealing Dr. Cunningham’s hypocrisy and the school’s at the same time.

                All told, Donnie Darko is an interesting addition to the “Great Films” pantheon, blending science fiction, horror, high school, and nostalgia into an imperfect, yet compelling piece that warrants watching multiple times, making it worth the rewatch with entertaining subplots and references throughout, fitting in well as part of the 1001 greatest films of all time.