Donnie, Donnie Darko

I recently watched the film Donnie Darko for the second or third time. I always enjoy it, but I'm never sure about how to feel about the end. I'm sure this is an acquired taste, but it draws me in, like an evil rabbit. It's beautifully dark, without the anger you would expect, just sadness. The basic plot of the movie, though buried under a story of teenage angst in the suburbs, is that a 6 foot rabbit (Think an evil Harvey with a silver mask) revealed to Donnie that the world is going to end in less than a month.

It's impossible to really explore this film without spoiling it, so if you have not seen the movie, don't blame me if I ruin it. So, spoilers are noted, into the rabbit hole we go. It's essentially a messianic movie. Donnie is the messiah because he was the closest to the "artifact" that messed up space-time. The bunny, Frank, is essentially there to lead him to the point where he is willing to save the world. Frank first demonstrates his propensity for evil, but good always comes from it, so Donnie sort of trusts him. Well, trusts him as much as anyone trusts an evil looking rabbit who tells them to do bad things.

The thing is, Donnie doesn't seem to want to save the world. He appears a little unconvinced that the world IS going to end, and furthermore, doesn't seem to want the responsibility of saving it, especially because he has to die in saving it. This changes with the "Deux ex machina" of his (new) girlfriend dying. Suddenly, the world is not as friendly, but more important. Apparently his angst ridden exterior hides a truly sacrificial heart.

Contrasted to this messianism in the movie is Jim Cunningham, brilliantly portrayed, if briefly, by Patrick Swayze. Everyone loves Jim. He's the author of a bestselling book, a motivational speaker and just a darn nice guy. People's lives change simply because they accept his message of loving to overpower fear. The thing is, Jim gets busted for kiddie porn. Apparently his golden-boy status hid his truly reprobate heart.

The mood of the movie, if not the plot, is summed up nicely in Mad World, from the films soundtrack, among other places.



The contrast between Cunningham and Darko is nice, demonstrating a sort of 1st Samuel approach. But the real story is the salvation of the world being effected through the quiet sacrifice of one young man, at the behest of an unknown power. Although no specific authority is named, we see that all the circumstances in the film have moved Donnie to the point where he is willing to save the world. It was his choice, yet "fate" moved him inexorably toward the correct decision. So Darko becomes a messiah, while JC is an antichrist.

For more information lookup Donnie or The Philosophy of Time Travel.