Watch Donnie Darko: It’s perhaps the greatest movie of all time

Photo courtesy of The Thin Air

A scene from “Donnie Darko” where Donnie is being visited by Frank, a satanic bunny-like figure, at a movie theatre.

Isaac Bostonmaer, Sports Editor
January 6, 2021

I began to watch and analyze films in middle school as I matured and my curiosity about my surrounding environment grew. I found that indulging in movies both entertains me and leaves me thinking about specific topics.

From my experiences of watching movies, the movie that I would consider the best would be none other than Richard Kelly’s “Donnie Darko” which stars Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Seth Rogen, Jena Malone and Patrick Swayze. No other movie has succeeded in master dictation of an intriguing storyline and a mind-bending ending.

“Donnie Darko” is a sci-fi/fantasy cult classic film that was released in 2001 and takes place in a suburban neighborhood in 1988. A teenager named Donnie Darko, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, sleepwalks out of his home to a field where he meets a stranger named Frank, a figure dressed in a sinister bunny costume who tells Darko the world will end in 28 days. Over the next month, Donnie is plagued by hallucinations and strange thoughts. Is Donnie going insane, is the world actually ending, or something else entirely?  

Despite its lack of success after its initial release at the box office, I have never seen a movie that better executes a sophisticated and compelling plot with such a mind-bending end. Throughout the whole movie, my eyes were pasted to the screen. The film’s plot is filled with many ideas and themes regarding reality, time-travel, and mental health. All these aspects that were mentioned and unraveled in the film were enacted at the end of the movie leaving audiences shocked and even confused at the finish. The movie’s conclusion is left unclear and subjective on purpose to leave the viewers with the task of deciphering the masterpiece on their own, setting it apart from other films and being the reason for its greatness. Audiences are meant to be left coming up with their own interpretation of the truth of Donnie’s mental state and actions. 

“Donnie Darko” is a true masterpiece in the world of film. It’s nearly impossible to adequately explain its true greatness without spoiling the premise. So, I highly recommend you watch and piece together the movie for yourself. Watch it. You will not be let down.

“Donnie Darko” is for free streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Tubi, and Pluto TV. Enjoy.