Donnie Darko ????

Question

I saw this film ages ago and loved it - but what was it about? I thought it was to do with an alternate universe that showed him what the consequences would be if he didn't die - like the girl getting killed. But then I thought how do you explain the plane engine falling into his bedrrom when it came off the plane his Mum was on when she went to LA, when she was in the hosue with him????? Am I thick I just did not get it??

Answer 1

If Donnie hadn't died then his Mom would have in the plane.
The whole movie is what may have happened but by the end none of it ever happened.
Recall the beginning; plane engine crashes through house, killing nobody, but where is Mom?
The end; engine kills Donnie, Mom never got on plane. And look, there's Donnie's might have been girlfriend experiencing some weird feeling of what...?

Answer 2

You're certainly not thick - I don't fully understand Donnie Darko either, but I just know that I loved, loved, loved it. Thought it was such a dark, brilliant movie. Haven't seen it in years and must watch it again... I think you're on the right track with the whole 'alternate universe' thing, except the way I saw it was like the film was a sort of time-warp, and that he was fated to die, but that the film showed what could have happened if he didn't die, but then he did anyway. Mind-boggling. But brilliant.

Answer 3

personally I saw it as a film about fate/a pre-destined future, Donnie was given the opportunity to see what would've happen had he escaped his fate but as it was his destiny to die in his room it caught up with him in the end, it kinda went round full circle and i think he knew that when he drove gretchen(?) up to the mountains when she was dead and he looked up and saw the engine falling off the plane, time had looped on itself. When the engine falls in the first instance the government say they do not know where it has come from and no aircraft has lost an engine or reported any difficulties and thats because the engine came from the parellel time, off the plane his mother and sister were on in the alternate life as such. But i think the main thing about this film is to interpret it as you see it, sometimes you can disect a film to death and it loses some of it's magic, i think one of the reasons Donnie Darko is such an amazing film is because it is able to retain some mystery about it. Definitely one of my favourite films!!

Answer 4

Man it has been a long time since I saw that movie, but I think the engine would have fallen off no matter what, it is just that the places he was and his mom were, were different. Does that make sense? I don't know, but it is a great movie.

Answer 5

I think that this movie could be interpreted two ways.
1. Donnie was schizophrenic and we were watching his mental breakdown
2. He really was able to travel in time and did so to save the world

Answer 6

One of my favourite movies of recent times. I don't think anyone can answer this question. The film is very complicated and it is impossible to give a clear verdict. Just enjoy it!

Answer 7

Didnt really get the film, think its a bit of all you said. Its mad but superb at the same time. Everytime you watch it you get somethng different out of it.

Great film

Answer 8

Good grief that movie was complex...but very fun to watch. basically the prosthetic rabbit tells him the world is going to end and he tries to save everyone...HUGE cult classic, probably right after Rocky Horror. It is very hard to understand unless you are one of those people that really thinks about movies.

Answer 9

I LOVE Donnie Darko...The website is awesome. I still haven't completely finished it.

Answer 10

you know more about it than me, i watched the 1st 5 Min's and got bored, went back on to yahoo answers,