In my opinion, one of the very best genres is psychological horror, and “Donnie Darko” is my top pick among them all. The story follows a teenage boy named Donald Darko who has some mental health issues. He begins to see a giant bunny named Frank who tells him things about the future, including that the world is going to end. Throughout the movie, Donnie spends his time trying to understand Frank, and avoid the inevitable end of the world. It’s a completely unique story that has never been done quite the same again.
The movie stars Jake Gyllenhaal, who is an incredibly talented actor that has since made his mark in films like “Bubble Boy”, “Highway”, and “Brokeback Mountain”. This film was one of the big stepping stones in his career to becoming a star and household name that everyone knows and loves. His portrayal of Donnie Darko felt so real, and this made his character so much easier for the watchers to connect with. To see themselves in Donnie and feel his pain and confusion. The movie can be confusing to watch but that is because Donnie himself is not even sure what exactly is going on.
Another great thing about “Donnie Darko” are the song choices made for this movie. It is set in the 80s but filmed in the 2000s and they did a good job of mixing the modern soundtracks of that time with some retro ones. With the movie opening with “Head over Heels” by Tears for Fears which was a very popular song from the 80s while also adding new music at the end with “Mad World” by Gary Jules and Micheal Andrews. The soundtrack matches the mood of each scene perfectly, especially at the ending with Mad World playing as Donnie lets go of all hope of living.
The only negative thing I have to say about “Donnie Darko” is not even about “Donnie Darko” itself, it is about the sequel. “S. Darko”, was a horrible movie that should have never been created. “Donnie Darko” is too good to be followed up by a sequel especially as forgettable as “S. Darko”. The story came to a well-rounded conclusion and had no need to be continued. The world continued without Donnie in it, with Donnie still alive there was no future because he was not meant to survive that plane crash. There was no reason to make a movie where Samatha begins to have visions because the audience was never invested in Samantha.
Overall, I think “Donnie Darko” is a great watch that you will never forget, and I recommend you watch it if you are a fan of psychological horror. The film deserves all the love it receives, and it is a well written piece with great cinematography. I give “Donnie Darko” 5 out of 5 Franks.
Written by Danica Stotyn, Lethbridge Polytechnic
