Donnie Darko (2001)
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A troubled teenager's life is upended when he encounters a mysterious figure in a rabbit costume who warns him that the world will end in 28 days.
The story
Set in October 1988 in a Virginia suburb, the film follows Donnie Darko, a troubled teenager who experiences a series of unsettling events after sleepwalking into a bizarre encounter. He meets a figure named Frank in a monstrous rabbit costume who warns him that the world will end in 28 days. Following this, a jet engine crashes into his bedroom, and Donnie begins to experience visions and visions of Frank. As his parents seek help from a psychotherapist, Donnie becomes entangled in a web of mystery involving a mysterious book on the philosophy of time travel and a growing sense of impending doom.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
On October 2, 1988, in a Virginia suburb, Donnie Darko sleepwalks and meets Frank, a figure in a rabbit costume who predicts the world's end in 28 days. A jet engine crashes into Donnie's room, and he begins to experience visions of Frank while his parents seek psychiatric help for his 'hallucinations.' Donnie begins to investigate the nature of time travel through a book by Roberta Sparrow. He begins a relationship with Gretchen Ross, while his peers and teachers are caught in the mundane routines of suburban life. As the deadline approaches, Donnie and his friends seek out Sparrow, only to find her home occupied by intruders. During a confrontation, Gretchen is killed by Frank, who is revealed to be a teenager. Donnie shoots Frank and, as the world begins to end, he realizes the events are part of a loop. He drives Gretchen's body to a ridge where a vortex forms, and a plane carrying his mother is pulled into it, causing the events of the past 28 days to unravel. Donnie wakes up in his room on October 2, the jet engine falls into his room, and he dies, while the world continues in a new timeline.
- First release year
- 2001
- Runtime (minutes)
- 113
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Richard Kelly
- Writers
- Richard Kelly · writer
- Cast and characters
- Jake Gyllenhaal · Donnie Darko; Jena Malone; Drew Barrymore; Maggie Gyllenhaal · Elizabeth; Mary McDonnell; Katharine Ross; Patrick Swayze; Noah Wyle
- Genres
- science fiction; psychological thriller
- Themes
- time travel; fate; adolescence
- Tone and mood
- eerie; dreamy; menacing
- Premise and plot tags
- science fiction; psychological thriller; coming-of-age
- Reception
- The film received generally favorable reviews and gained a cult following despite a poor initial box office performance due to its timing following the September 11 attacks.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 88% · scale: percentage · review count: 125; Metacritic · score: 71 · scale: 100 · review count: 21
- Awards and nominations
- Best Screenplay · San Diego Film Critics Society · win; Audience Award · Sweden Fantastic Film Festival · win; Special Award · Saturn Awards · win; Silver Scream Award · Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival · win; Best Film · Sitges Film Festival · nomination; Best First Feature · Independent Spirit Awards · nomination; Best First Screenplay · Independent Spirit Awards · nomination; Best Male Lead · Independent Spirit Awards · nomination; Best Breakthrough Filmmaker · Online Film Critics Society Awards · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was inspired by the novel Watership Down.; The production designer purchased the jet engine used in the film for $10,000.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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