Having seen it I have to wonder why I waited so long. Part of it was timing, of course. I was still teaching at Nashotah House when Donnie Darko came out, and I didn’t watch as many movies then. My loss of that job started me on my horror-watching spree, but Donnie Darko is more than horror. In fact, it’s usually labeled a thriller instead. Another reason I avoided it is, alas, the title. It’s actually the name of the protagonist, and one of the other characters in the movie remarks that it sounds like a superhero name rather than a regular person. What’s it about? Well, that’s where it gets interesting. Donnie has mental health issues, but those issues are tied in with time travel and philosophical discussions about the existence of God. The high school Donnie attends, although not explicitly stated, seems to be Catholic but there aren’t priests and nuns about, and one of the teachers is seemingly evangelical.
Donnie has trouble distinguishing reality. Instead of allowing the audience to get away with labeling him easily, the question of reality itself is left unanswered. The movie is deep like Brazil or The Matrix, and is often considered one of the greatest independent films of all time. It’s the story of Donnie’s October 1988. He sleepwalks and sees a guy in a bunny costume who tells him the world will end in 28 days. Of course he’s medicated and sent to see a psychologist, but what the guy in the bunny costume tells him ends up coming true. The story is intricate and doesn’t bear a brief synopsis. It is a movie that will make you think. It’s become a cult film and I think I’ll be joining that crowd on this one.
Films that manage to put philosophical reflection in the spotlight are rare. Even more uncommon are those that do so with high production values and convincing acting. Movies that do this aren’t often cheerful—philosophers in general don’t tend to be a jovial lot (some are fun, of course, but they’re not the majority). Thinking is serious work, even if those who do it aren’t really paid for their efforts. Donnie Darko is a movie that will make you think. Is it horror? Some classify it so. Others say sci-fi, but it didn’t really seem like that to me. In fact, it’s very difficult to classify at all. Many of the best movies are that way, in my experience.
