Frank, who appeared earlier on in story, is starting
to appear more and more frequently forcing Donnie to do and say things.
The film goes on to reveal how Donnie tries to save his beloved Gretchen and others for a terrible fate.
The broadsheet film review.
This classic of tale is filled with suspense and twists around every corner. Be careful it my not be what you think it is.
The story begins when our lead Donnie (played winningly by Jake gyllenhaal) is woken by a mystery voice and then sleepwalks unknowingly onto a golf course. The voice is later revealed to belong to an evil-looking, 6' tall metal rabbit named, is he just a fragment of Donnie’s imagination linked with his medication for his emotional problems, or is there something more to this character than we first perceive?
Ether way frank goes on to inform Donnie that in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds, the worlds will end; Though creepy, Donnie's midnight rendezvous meant his life was spared when a jet airplane engine crashed into his room, and from here on a government cover up takes place.
And that's just the start of the strange occurrences. Donnie's dad almost runs over Roberta Sparrow, the seemingly senile old lady, who Donnie later on find out to be an ex teacher from his school. Amongst all this confusion Donnie meets a girl who later proves to be an important part of the plot and a more sinister story line plays out in the background involving a squeaky clean local celebrity played by Patrick swayze, who plays the part of a brainwashing “cult leader”.
For those of you that love a puzzle, or simply enjoy a good plot you can get your teeth into this is the film for you. You never can be quite sure what is going on as it has a number of different plot lines that twist and overlap. If you think this is just another teen movie then think again.
And there’s not a cheerleader in sight.
Specialist magazine.
This film is nothing like anything you’ve ever seen before. Jake Gyllenhall plays the teenage, supposedly schizophrenic Donnie.
Donnie has the typical teenage problems and we find more bizarre ones as we delve deeper into the film; what with the reoccurring appearances of a fabulously sinister 6 foot demonic rabbit, who tells Donnie that the world will end in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds. These appearances often leave us wondering if Frank the rabbit has come from the subconscious and is linked with Donnie’s tablets, or has he really be sent from the future to warn Donnie? And will it help or hinder the situation.
Donnie’s dislike for Jim Cunningham, the local “celebrity” is fueled by Frank’s suspicions and suggestions, which results in Donnie revealing the real Jim Cunningham to the world.
Donnie does not have any true friends, until he meets Gretchen who he instantly forms an emotional bond with. She not put off by his strange ways, and understands him. The pair become inseparable.
The appearance of the mysterious Roberta Sparrow “Grandma Death” only leads to more intrigue as the plot develops. When Donnie is reprimanded by one of his teachers, he is handed a book written about the theory of time travel only to discover that “Grandma Death” is not only the author of the book in question, but a former teacher from his school. This leads him to believe she is tied with his destiny. He reads the book and can identify similarities in his life.
Slowly the film begins to count down to the day when Donnie must come face-to-face with his dark destiny. Donnie Darko is nevertheless a mini-masterpiece which is set to become a cult classic with its intricate web of storylines it will not fall to lure you into the world of Donnie Darko and time travel. Nothing says nail-biter like Donnie Darko.
Lads Magazine.
Donnie Darko is a cult classic, in which a boy goes to find his destiny, although it does have some humor in it’s possibly not the best for a lad’s night in. But brilliant to take round your girlfriends house for an evening in.
