Should You Watch Donnie Darko?

"Donnie Darko" is a fascinating movie that revolves around a boy named Donnie Darko, a troubled teenager with mental issues. Things take a dangerous turn when Donnie starts to have visions of a weird rabbit that makes him do wrong things for a specific purpose. What purpose does that rabbit want to fulfil by manipulating a young boy? Should you watch the movie to figure out this question?

Overview of The Film

• Movie: Donnie Darko
• Director: Richard Kelly
• Released: 2001
• Running Time: 113 Minutes
• Budget: $4.5 Million
• Box Office: $7.5 Million

Jake Gyllenhaal played the leading role, Donnie Darko, in this movie that delves into themes of time travel, alternate realities, and mental health. Upon its release in 2001, it received a mixed reaction and wasn’t an instant hit. However, over time, it has developed a cult following.

Who Should Watch It?

Not For Children

This movie is obviously not for children. It's not that their dumb minds won’t understand the concept, but because it simply isn’t made for them. In the movie, children are depicted talking in a very inappropriate manner and engaging in bad habits. Idiotic teenage school students can be seen smoking, teasing, using racist language, and whatnot.

Another reason not to watch it with your children is the potential embarrassment of trying to explain what the movie is about. Unless you're a genius, you probably won't understand it fully. So, you should definitely not watch it with children below 18, as the maturity rating of the movie suggests.

What Can You Expect From Donnie Darko?

Do not expect it to be a normal time travel movie. There is no genius scientist inventing a time machine to alter the past or take a glimpse into the future. There’s someone in a rabbit costume pursuing a boy to do some unusual things for a specific purpose.

Yes, the film is based on time travel and events will be altered, but in a way that most don’t understand. And that’s the reason the film received a mixed reaction. Some hated it for being too confusing while some loved it for the same reason. Let me tell you, I am in the second category.

In the film, a rabbit manipulates a boy. Why? I couldn't understand properly. Yes, I am still confused. After completing the movie, I went to YouTube to watch an explanation video. The guy in the video seemed confused himself. People in the comments section were also confused and presented their own weird theories.

After completing that 15-minute long video, I was still unsure about the movie, so I watched a couple more videos, each offering a different explanation. The time travel and parallel universe theories were just so confusing to understand, and I am still unsure which explanation to believe.

I spent almost 3-4 hours watching videos, reading comments, and brainstorming for a 110-minute long movie but still didn't understand it. However, I would recommend this movie to people like me who are willing to put in some time and effort to understand the movie.

Wrapping Up

"Donnie Darko" is a thought-provoking movie and it certainly isn’t made for everyone, especially not for people who prefer straightforward narratives. If you're a fan of science fiction movies like "Inception," you should give "Donnie Darko" a try. It will leave you pondering long after the credits roll.