Donnie Darko

Donnie Darko is a 2001 film that follows the story of a schizophrenic of a young high school boy named, Donnie Darko. Jake Gyllenhall stars as Donnie and the overall feeling of the movie is compelling and eerie. Donnie has stopped taking his medicine and as a result of that he starts sleepwalking. That night Donnie is greeted by a creepy person dressed up as a bunny named Frank. Frank tells Donnie that the world is ending in 28 days 6 hours 42 minuets and 12 seconds. That night a plane engine crashed through Donnie’s room but he wasn’t there because he was sleepwalking. A few days past and Frank influences Donnie to flood the school by breaking the pipes. It is then revealed that Donnie spray painted “they made me do it” on a statue in front of the school. School is ultimately canceled the next day and Donnie then meets a girl that becomes his girlfriend, Gretchen.

Later, Donnie lashes out against a speaker and a teacher because of their hypocritical teaching ways. Donnie is then suspended by the school. Time travel then becomes a part of the story when Frank mentions it to Donnie. Donnie starts to see these weird light tubes that come out of his family’s chest. His own light lead him to his parents room where he finds a gun.

Donnie goes to see a movie with Gretchen and she ends up falling asleep. Frank then appears and Donnie tells him to remove his mask reveling a nasty wound on his eye. Frank then directs Donnie to burn down the hypocritical speakers house. Donnie does. 

When their parents are away Donnie’s sister throws a party. Donnie realizes that theres not a lot of time before the world ends. Donnie and Gretchen drive out to a location where they meet the school bullies. Gretchen is thrown to the ground and then is run over and killed by an erratic drive. The driver gets out and is wearing the same bunny costume that Frank wears. Donnie then shoots frank in the eye and drives away with Gretchen’s dead body. 

As he is driving, Donnie notices a time warp and drives into the tunnel. It then shows Donnie in his bed happy and smiling. Soon after he sleeps, the jet engine crashes through his room.

I recommend this movie because it has a very interesting story line and is unlike any movie that I have ever seen. The ending is very unpredictable which makes for a compelling journey.