Donnie Darko is an intelligent but disturbed teenager, reminiscent of Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye. He lives in a suburban world where many around him are caught up in superficiality, with cheesy dance contests and a dubious self-help cult occupying the community.
After cheating death when a jet engine crashes through his roof, Donnie is told by an eight-foot rabbit, Frank, that the world will end within 28 days. What follows is a captivating story that twists and turns, combining sharp humour with a deeper sense of tragedy as it progresses.
While the themes of time travel and predetermination feed into a cerebral and dreamlike story, what distinguishes this from the purposeful surrealism of say, David Lynch, is the way tragedy is used to define its characters. As such, it stands out as a portrait of the angst of youth and finding your way in an apathetic world. This sense of alienation is reflected in adult as well as young characters, and is enhanced by resonant performances from Drew Barrymore, Noah Wyle and Mary McDonnell.
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