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Plot

In 1988 Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal), a brilliant teenager, has been seeing a psychiatrist, as he seems to be going through a particularly painful puberty. His mother becomes worried about him, after his sister suggests over dinner that he hasn’t been taking his medication. Later that night (October 2) Donnie is awakened by a voice and goes downstairs as if sleepwalking where he meets Frank (James Duval), a man in a menacing rabbit costume. Frank tells him that in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes and 12 seconds, the world will end. While he is outside, a jet engine crashes through Donnie’s bedroom.

Jim Cunningham (Patrick Swayze) wakes Donnie where he had fallen asleep on the golf course. Donnie notices his forearm where the numerals 28:06:42:12 are written in jagged script. Returning home he is surprised to find police and firemen have cordoned off his home. Donnie is told a jet engine has fallen through his room, although it is unknown where it came from.

As Eddie, Donnie’s father, drives him to the office of Dr. Thurman (Katharine Ross), Donnie’s therapist, Eddie nearly runs over Roberta Sparrow (Patience Cleveland), also known as “Grandma Death”: a seemingly senile old woman who spends her days walking back and forth from her house to a mailbox for a letter that never comes. Grandma Death whispers something in Donnie’s ear that startles him. It is later learned that she had whispered, “every living creature on earth dies alone.”

In his English class Donnie meets a new student, Gretchen Ross (Jena Malone). Meanwhile, Frank continues to appear to Donnie and tell him that he can do anything and will not get caught. Frank also tells Donnie about time travel, further confusing him. Donnie, apparently at Frank’s urging, commits several acts of violence against property; flooding the school and torching the home of Jim Cunningham, an inspirational speaker. Cunningham’s methods have been much admired by Kitty Farmer, one of the teachers at Donnie’s school.

Gretchen and Donnie grow closer. She is one of the few people he opens up to about his time-travel visions. Dr. Thurman increases Donnie’s medication and begins hypnotherapy with him. Frank continues to appear to Donnie.

With the inspirational speaker, Jim Cunningham, accused of running a “kiddie porn dungeon”, Kitty Farmer asks Donnie’s mother to accompany the schools dance team to LA for an appearance on the show Star Search. Donnie’s sister Elizabeth (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and Donnie decide to throw a Halloween party while their mother, Rose, and younger sister are away. The night of the party, October 30, Gretchen comes to Donnie’s house for safety because her mother has suddenly disappeared.

At midnight, Donnie realizes that the 28 days have passed, and that only 6 hours remain until the end of the world. Convinced that Grandma Death is in some way connected to Frank, Donnie persuades Gretchen and two other friends to leave the party and go with him to her house. There, they are assaulted by the high school bullies (Alex Greenwald and Seth Rogen). Gretchen is knocked unconscious and thrown into the street. An approaching car scares the bullies off but swerves to avoid Grandma Death who is standing in the road and runs directly over Gretchen. Stopping the car, Frank gets out and starts yelling at Donnie, who lifts his father’s stolen pistol and shoots Frank through his right eye (a wound seen earlier as the ‘menacing rabbit’ Frank pulled off his mask).

Grandma Death tells Donnie (Director’s cut) that he must hurry as a storm is forming and he has a lot to do. Donnie can’t wake Gretchen and ends up carrying her lifeless body to his home. There he kisses his sleeping sister’s forehead, grabs some keys and speeds away in the family car with Gretchen. We see a strange, inverted, black cloud forming over Donnie’s house. Next Donnie watches from some road in the hills above town as a tornado forms over the city. Donnie seems at peace now, as a vortex engulfs the jet his mother and sister are returning home in, apparently they are caught up in the storm above Donnie’s home. Suddenly the jet is shaken violently and we see the engine torn from the wing and begin to fall, creating a whirling pathway through the sky.

Director’s cut ending

Suddenly Donnie’s elder sister opens the family’s home’s front door, closes it, and leans against the door, as she had done at the beginning of the film. Her father is asleep in his chair. Donnie, lying upstairs in his bed, starts to laugh maniacally, then the noise grows as the house begins to shake violently. Donnie is now seen asleep in his bed. As the house starts to fall apart, we see his mother in her bed as the massive jet engine that had, only minutes before, fallen from the plane carrying his mother and sister, crashes through Donnie’s bedroom.

Theatrical version ending

In the theatrical version it is once again October 2. Donnie is once again in bed, having possibly travelled back in time to create an ontological paradox, where his future self takes the place of his past self. On this occasion Donnie has returned to his bed, where in the beginning of the film he had followed a strange voice, as he walked outside and met Frank. As he laughs maniacally, a jet engine crashes through the roof, killing him.

Common ending

All the people affected by Donnie’s actions are then shown in short scenes that briefly reference the events as they happen with Donnie never having taken his walk to meet Frank. The Tears For Fears’ song “Mad World”, covered by Gary Jules, is played with the words matching the scenes. As Donnie’s body is taken away, Gretchen, having never met Donnie, rides by the Darkos’ house on her bicycle. She learns from a neighborhood boy about what has just happened and then waves to Donnie’s mother who stands smoking a cigarette.

Director’s interpretation

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Writer/director Richard Kelly does not deny the validity of personal interpretations, but has expressed his own theories through the extra commentary on the two DVDs, and in various other interviews.

According to Kelly and his fictional Philosophy of Time Travel, at midnight on October 2 – a Tangent Universe branches off the Primary Universe around the time when Donnie is called out of his bedroom by Frank, immediately before the appearance of the Artifact, the faulty jet engine. The inherently unstable Tangent Universe will collapse in just over 28 days and take the Primary Universe with it if not corrected. Closing the Tangent Universe is the duty of the Living Receiver, Donnie, who wields certain supernatural powers to help him in the task.

Those who die within the Tangent Universe (and would not have died otherwise) are the Manipulated Dead (Frank, Gretchen). Frank, at least, is also given certain powers in that he is able to subtly understand what is happening and have the ability to contact and influence the Living Receiver via the Fourth Dimensional Construct (water). All others within the orbit of the Living Receiver are the Manipulated Living (e.g. Ms. Pomeroy, Dr. Monnitoff), subconsciously drawn to push him towards his destiny to close the Tangent Universe and, according to the Philosophy of Time Travel, die by the Artifact.

Frank appears in the story in two guises (three guises if we assume that he ‘never’ dies on account of the restoration of the Primary Universe through the negation of the Tangent Universe). First, there is the Manipulated Dead Frank who appears to Donnie as a premonition from the future of the Tangent Universe in the disturbing rabbit suit. Dead Frank is aware of Donnie’s fate and destiny, and impels him to realize it so that the Primary Universe can be restored at the point where/when the Tangent Universe branched off from it. Secondly, Frank appears alive as Donnie’s sister’s boyfriend, whose fate unfolds within the Tangent Universe by means of Donnie’s successes in realizing his mission. This living boyfriend is fatally shot by Donnie towards the end of the film, a killing which was foreseen by Donnie.

Cast

Jake Gyllenhaal as Donnie Darko

Jena Malone as Gretchen Ross

James Duval as Frank

Maggie Gyllenhaal as Elizabeth Darko

Mary McDonnell as Rose Darko

Holmes Osborne as Eddie Darko

Katharine Ross as Dr. Lilian Thurman

Drew Barrymore as Karen Pomeroy

Noah Wyle as Dr. Kenneth Monnitoff

Patrick Swayze as Jim Cunningham

Daveigh Chase as Samantha “Sam” Darko

Beth Grant as Kitty Farmer

Stuart Stone as Ronald Fisher

Alex Greenwald as Seth Devlin

Seth Rogen as Ricky Danforth

Patience Cleveland as Roberta Sparrow (“Grandma Death”)

Jolene Purdy as Cherita Chen

Ashley Tisdale as Kim

Jerry Trainor as Lanky Kid

William Adams as little boy in the end

Production

Filming

The Long Beach, California home used in Donnie Darko as the fictional, upscale home of motivational speaker Jim Cunningham.

Donnie Darko was filmed in 28 days on a budget of .5 million. It almost went straight to home video release but was publicly released by the production company Flower Films.

The film was shot in California. The “Carpathian ridge” scenes were shot on the Angeles Crest Highway. Loyola High School, a prominent Catholic school in Los Angeles, California, was used as Donnie’s high school. The house where the Darko family lives is located in Long Beach, California. Donnie awakens in a golf course in Long Beach, California; the hotel where his family lodges is the Burbank, California, Holiday Inn; and the Aero theater where Donnie and Gretchen watch the double feature is a cinema in Santa Monica, California.

The home of Patrick Swayze’s character, Jim Cunningham, is at 4252 Country Club Drive Long Beach, California.

Music

Main article: Donnie Darko (soundtrack)

In 2003, composer Michael Andrews and singer Gary Jules found their piano-driven cover of the Tears for Fears’ hit “Mad World”, featured in the film as part of the end sequence, and the song was the UK Christmas Number One single in 2003. One continuous sequence involving an introduction of Donnie’s high school prominently features the song “Head Over Heels” by Tears for Fears, Samantha’s dance group, “Sparkle Motion,” performs with the song “Notorious” by Duran Duran, and “Under the Milky Way” by The Church is played after Donnie and Gretchen emerge from his room during the party. “Love Will Tear Us Apart” by Joy Division also appears in the film diegetically during the party and shots of Donnie and Gretchen upstairs. However, the version included was released in 1995, although the film is set in 1988. The opening sequence is set to “The Killing Moon” by Echo & the Bunnymen. In the theatrical cut, the song playing during the Halloween party is “Proud to be Loud” by Pantera, a track released on their 1988 album, which would concide with the time setting of the film. However, the band is credited as “The Dead Green Mummies”.

In the re-released Director’s Cut version of the film, the music in the opening sequence is replaced by “Never Tear Us Apart” by INXS; “Under the Milky Way” is moved to the scene of Donnie and his father driving home from Donnie’s meeting with his therapist; and “The Killing Moon” is played as Gretchen and Donnie return to the party from Donnie’s parents’ room.

Release

The limited release of the film occurred during the month after the September 11 attacks. It was subsequently held back for almost a year for international release, where it garnered more favorable reviews.[citation needed] From this point, a large cult following for the movie began. Its DVD release gained an increased American audience for the film.

Marketing

The Donnie Darko Book, written by Richard Kelly, is a 2003 book about the film. It includes an introduction by Jake Gyllenhaal, the screenplay of the Donnie Darko Director’s Cut, an in-depth interview with Kelly, facsimile pages from the Philosophy of Time Travel, photos and drawings from the film, and artwork it inspired.

NECA released first a six-inch (15 cm) figure of Frank the Bunny and later a foot-tall (30 cm) ‘talking’ version of the same figure.

Home video

The film was originally released on DVD and VHS in March 2002. Strong DVD sales led Newmarket Films to release a “Director’s Cut” on DVD in 2004. Bob Berney, President of Newmarket Films, described the film as “a runaway hit on DVD,” citing United States sales of more than million.

The director’s cut of the film was released on May 29, 2004, in Seattle, Washington, at the Seattle International Film Festival and later in New York City and Los Angeles on July 23, 2004. This cut includes twenty minutes of extra footage, an altered soundtrack, the director’s commentary assisted by Kevin Smith, the director’s interpretation, and visual excerpts from the book The Philosophy of Time Travel. The director’s cut DVD, released on February 15, 2005, included the new footage and more soundtrack changes, as well as some additional features exclusive to the two-DVD set: excerpts from the storyboard, a 52-minute production diary, “#1 fan video,” a “cult following” video interviewing British fans, and the new director’s cut cinematic trailer. The director’s cut DVD was released as a giveaway with copies of the British Sunday Times newspaper on February 19, 2006.

The film was released on Blu-ray on February 10, 2009.

Reception

Box office performance

Donnie Darko had its first screening at the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2001, and debuted in United States theaters in October 2001 to a tepid response. Shown on only 58 screens nationwide, the film grossed 0,494 in its opening weekend. By the time the film closed in United States theaters on April 11, 2002, it had earned just 7,375. It ultimately grossed .1 million worldwide.

Despite its poor box office showing, the film began to attract a devoted fan base. It was originally released on DVD and VHS in March 2002. During this time, the Pioneer Theatre in New York City’s East Village began midnight screenings of Donnie Darko that continued for 28 consecutive months.

Critical reception

The film received widespread critical acclaimotten Tomatoes gave the film an 84% rating (the Director’s Cut received 91%), while Metacritic gave it a 71 out of 100 (the Director’s Cut received 88 out of 100). Critic Andy Bailey billed Donnie Darko as a “Sundance surprise” that “isn’t spoiled by the Hollywood forces that helped birth it.” Jean Oppenheimer of New Times (LA) praised the film, saying, “Like gathering storm clouds, Donnie Darko creates an atmosphere of eerie calm and mounting menace — stands as one of the most exceptional movies of 2001.” Writing for ABC Australia, Megan Spencer called the movie, “menacing, dreamy, [and] exciting” and noted that “it could take you to a deeply emotional place lying dormant in your soul.” At first when the movie was released, Roger Ebert gave the film a less than positive review but later became more enamored by the film after seeing the release of the director’s cut.

Awards

2001 Richard Kelly won with Donnie Darko for “Best Screenplay” at the Catalonian International Film Festival and at the San Diego Film Critics Society. Donnie Darko also won the “Audience Award” for Best Feature at the Sweden Fantastic Film Festival. The film was nominated for “Best Film” at the Catalonian International Film Festival and for the “Grand Jury Prize” at the Sundance Film Festival.

2002 Donnie Darko won the “Special Award” at the Young Filmmakers Showcase at the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. The movie also won the “Silver Scream Award” at the Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival. Kelly was nominated for “Best First Feature” and “Best First Screenplay” with Donnie Darko, as well as Jake Gyllenhaal being nominated for “Best Male Lead,” at the Independent Spirit Awards. The film was also nominated for the “Best Breakthrough Film” at the Online Film Critics Society Awards.

2003 Jake Gyllenhaal won “Best Actor” and Richard Kelly “Best Original Screenplay” for Donnie Darko at the Chlotrudis Awards, where Kelly was also nominated for “Best Director” and “Best Movie.”

2005 Donnie Darko ranked in the top five on My Favourite Film, an Australian poll conducted by the ABC.

2006 Donnie Darko ranks ninth in FilmFour’s 50 Films to See Before You Die.

It also came in at number 14 on Entertainment Weekly’s list of the 50 Best High School Movies and landed at number 2 in their “Greatest Independent Films of All Time” list.

Sequel

Main article: S. Darko

A 2009 sequel, S. Darko, centers on Samantha Darko, Donnie’s younger sister. Again played by Daveigh Chase, Samantha begins to have strange dreams that hint at a major catastrophe. Donnie Darko creator Richard Kelly has stated that he has no involvement in this sequel, as he does not own the rights to the original. Daveigh and producer Adam Fields are the only creative links between it and the original film. The sequel received mostly negative reviews.

Adaptations

Marcus Stern, Associate Director of the American Repertory Theater, directed a staged adaptation of Donnie Darko at the Zero Arrow Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the fall of 2007. It ran from October 27 to November 18, 2007, with opening night fittingly scheduled on Halloween. An article written by the production dramaturg stated that the director and production team planned to “embrace the challenge to make the fantastical elements come alive on stage.” In 2004, Stern adapted and directed Kelly’s screenplay for a graduate student production at the American Repertory Theatre’s Institute for Advanced Theatre Training (I.A.T.T./M.X.A.T.).

A 60 second version was created for the Empire Film Awards by Tea Fuelled Art

References

^ a b c Richard Kelly (director). (2004). Donnie Darko: The Director’s Cut. [DVD]. 

^ a b c d “Donnie Darko”. The Numbers: Box Office Data, Movie Stars, Idle Speculation. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2001/DARKO.php. Retrieved 26 August 2009. 

^ The AV Club – “The New Cult Canon: Donnie Darko”

^ a b “Donnie Darko film review”. Rotten Tomatoes. IGN.com. 2001. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/donnie_darko/. Retrieved 2008-09-11. 

^ “‘Darko’ takes a long, strange trip”. USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2005-02-14-dvd-donnie-darko_x.htm. Retrieved 2005-02-14. 

^ Poster, Steven (Cinematographer). (2004). Donnie Darko Production Diary. [DVD]. 20th Century Fox. 

^ a b “Donnie Darko”. Indie Wire. http://www.indiewire.com/movies/movies_040722darko.html. Retrieved 2006-05-17. 

^ a b “Donnie Darko (2001)”. Box Office Mojo. http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=donniedarko.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-25. 

^ “Donnie Darko”. Indie Wire. http://www.indiewire.com/movies/rev_01Sund_010121_Darco.html. Retrieved 2006-05-17. 

^ Review of Donnie Darko, by Megan Spencer, for ABC Australia.

^ “Donnie Darko: The Director’s Cut”. Rogerebert.com. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040820/REVIEWS/408200303/1023. Retrieved 2009-04-20. 

^ “My Favourite Film”. ABC. http://www.abc.net.au/myfavouritefilm/. Retrieved 2006-07-11. 

^ “C4 relaunches Film4 with ’50 films to see before you die’ list countdown”. Brand Republic. http://www.brandrepublic.com/bulletins/br/article/567497/c4-relaunches-film4-50-films-die-countdown/. Retrieved 2006-09-16. 

^ “IGN Article”. IGN. http://movies.ign.com/articles/873/873472p1.html. Retrieved 2009-01-28. 

^ “S. Darko review”. A.V. Club. 2009-05-13. http://www.avclub.com/articles/s-darko,27924/. Retrieved 2009-05-13. 

^ “rottentomatoes.com”. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/s_darko_a_donnie_darko_tale/. Retrieved 2010-02-03. 

^ Sarah Wallace (2007-08-07). “Bringing the End of the World to Life”. American Repertory Theatre. http://www.amrep.org/articles/6_1c/bringing.html. Retrieved 2007-10-14. [dead link]

^ “Done in 60 seconds competition”. empireonline.com. http://www.empireonline.com/awards2010/donein60seconds/. Retrieved 14 February 2010. 

Commentary with Kevin Smith (2003), Donnie Darko Directors Cut, Faber and Faber, ISBN 0571221246 

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Donnie Darko

Official website

Donnie Darko at the Internet Movie Database

Donnie Darko at Allmovie

Donnie Darko at Rotten Tomatoes

Donnie Darko: The Director’s Cut at Rotten Tomatoes

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Richard Kelly

Director

Donnie Darko (2001)  Southland Tales (2007)  The Box (2009)

Writer

Donnie Darko (2001)  Domino (2005)  Optimistic (2006)  Southland Tales (2007)  The Box (2009)  Vanishing Point (TBA)

Short films

The Goodbye Place (1996)  Visceral Matter (1997)

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