This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Blistering performances.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

It really doesn't get much better than this. Every shot is beautiful. It just sucks the director couldn't make another masterpiece like this one. Jake Gyllenahl gives another one of his incredible performances, however I will always think this is the pinnacle of his entire career so far. Prisoners and NightCrawler are tied for 2nd though.

If only this fantastic film was to be turned into a TV Series! Would need quite a bit of effort to get the casting right. With all the original actors now aged it'd need to be re-cast. But am I the only one that sees brilliant potential for a newly written TV Series? Surely the fan-base is already there?

Created by first time director, Richard Kelly, Donnie Darko is a sci-fi thriller, released in 2001. It follows teenager Donnie Darko through high school, family life, romance, and parallel universes. Set in the late 80s in a small town in Virginia, Donnie Darko showcases a troubled but intelligent young man grappling with high school bullies, an inability to fit in, and apparent schizophrenia. Upon brushing with death in a bizarre and secretive accident, Donnie is haunted by visions of a man in an eerie rabbit costume. Donnie is pushed to commit crimes, uncovering dark secrets of the town, leading to a larger conspiracy. Time travel, black holes, and alternate universes are woven into the story, leading Donnie to learn more about the unusual happenings of the town. A plethora of interesting characters are featured in the film, brought to life by the star-studded cast, including Jake Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, and Patrick Swayze. The dark subject matter of the film is contrasted by the comic relief put forth by many of the characters. Witty dialogue touches on political issues, mental health struggles, and teenage angst. The characters become increasingly self-aware as the plot thickens, guiding Donnie on his journey to sacrifice and salvation. The soundtrack, possibly the best part of the film, creates a dark and horrific tone like none other. Excellent use of new wave brings to life the 80s high school vibes in the movie. The somber ending is also perfectly captured using Gary Jules' Mad World. The soundtrack in Donnie Darko is used to not only used to develop setting and time period, but evoke deep emotion in the audience. Donnie Darko is a phenomenal film, telling stories of heroism and bravery. The characters' ability to recognize that things are not always as they seem make for a unique plot line. Each watch offers a new perspective on the film. The audience will discover new meanings each time the film is consumed.

I tried getting through this. Twice. I failed both times, turning it off in boredom on attempt 1. As a big fan of sci-fi, with this movie ranking highly in that category in so many lists, I tried a second time and ended up falling asleep. There won't be a third try.I made it about an hour in, and all I saw was some annoying kid who's on pills, with a dysfunctional family, rebelling in school. He doesn't fit in well at home nor with his "friends" at school. He's seeing a shrink, because every once in a while he'll see a man in a giant rabbit suit.There's no sci-fi. There's no thriller. There's no likable character. There's no horror or fantasy. It's just a boring story of how this kid spends his days at home and at school.Who knows. After that hour it may turn into the best movie ever. I guess I'll never know. Hey directors: you may want to offer something, ANYTHING, to keep your audience engaged for the first 60 minutes.Avoid at all cost. Boring and stupid.