10 Movies You Need To Watch Twice To Completely Understand
8. Donnie Darko
Donnie Darko is already one of film historys great mind bogglers. Its a shame Richard Kelly has never been able to follow it up with something worthwhile. Though it has been suggested that the Donnie Darko we know and love is due to keen-eyed editors as Kellys directors cut is reportedly unsatisfying to certain fans. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as the titular Donnie, a teen who narrowly avoids a near death experience when a jet engine falls in his bedroom. He finds that he was drawn away from the wreckage due to disturbing visions of a man dressed in a bunny suit called Frank, who tells him that the world will end in precisely 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes and 12 seconds. Donnie finds himself prey to more visions and manipulations watching fate unravel until he finally breaks himself free and changes time. With layers of philosophical sci-fi, moral dilemmas and teen angst, its a rich eerie film with a palpable menace to its atmosphere, especially in the way it visualizes complex concepts. But its not all doom and gloom as Donnie falls in love with Gretchen, played by Jena Malone, and their relationship grounds the film. This is an intellectual film about outcasts perfectly matched by its 80s New Wave soundtrack featuring now iconic songs by The Church, The Cure and Echo & The Bunnymen. Its ending must be seen twice to figure out exactly what happened, and you only spot Seth Rogen in his debut role on second viewing too.
Recently graduated from University of Hertfordshire with a Film & Television Production degree. Usually found watching films, listening to music, writing for whatculture and writing reviews for awardscircuit.com and my blog.
