Donnie Darko

Donnie Darko is an intense, complicated movie loaded with hidden messages, comments on human behavior, and insights into the mysteries of life and the possibilities of time travel. On the surface the film is a poppy science culture flick, with white attractive actors and actresses playing roles viewers can look at and link to people within their lives. When one looks deeper into the movie, however, this superficial layer is peeled away revealing themes and ideas about people that are incredibly powerful. There is, however, a unifying theme within the film; people who are trying to live their lives “normal,” fitting into convenient roles that are comfortable versus those who venture out to be themselves. These opposite lifestyles interwoven together really show different ways humans act, and what those actions cause. Why have this dynamic? Is the director trying to say one way to live is better than another? Only the movie can lead us to an answer.
Donnie Darko is an out...