On October 26, 2001, “Donnie Darko” debuted in theaters. Initially having a rocky box office performance due to limited advertising and uncomfortable timing given the September 11 terrorist attacks, the film would later go on to become a fan favorite, grossing $7.5 million worldwide after reissues in theaters and $10 million in home video sales in America.

Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a mentally-troubled 16-year-old. The film opens with Darko sleepwalking around his hometown of Middlesex, Virginia. Being led by a mysterious voice during his sleepwalking episode, he escapes death from a jet engine crashing through his bedroom. The voice then leads Darko to a golf course where a six-foot man wearing a bunny costume–who introduces himself as “Frank” (James Duval)–tells him in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds the world will end. Darko grapples with the fear of loneliness and the fear of dying alone. Throughout the movie, he also experiences hallucinations and has difficulty understanding what his teacher, Ms. Farmer, is saying about fear versus love, as he believes these emotions shouldn’t be categorized.

I love the idea of Frank and his design because he has this eeriness about him and a memorable, sinister voice. Seeing him in his bunny mask standing in Darko’s house in the middle of the night would be frightening for many. Moreover, Frank’s character is deeply complex; he acts as a mentor figure for much of the movie, but also influences Darko into commiting some pretty dark actions.

The stellar cast members–including Gyllenhaal and his sister, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Patrick Swayze, Seth Rogan, James Duval, and Daveigh Chase–seem to put their personal touches on this film.

The movie brings the 1980s-look in a realistic way, skipping the stereotypical neon colorings in favor of muted colors, something I enjoyed more than most 80s movies which take the easy way out and depict this nostalgic era as full of bright colors, classic pop songs, and people with big hair listening to Madonna while wearing tacky clothing. The movie’s soundtrack also has more gothic elements, especially in the opening song.

There are two versions of the film, the director’s cut and the theatrical cut. The director’s cut includes extra scenes that provide more detail than the theatrical cut, and the opening theme differs as well. For example, the theatrical version’s opening theme is “The Killing Moon” by Echo & the Bunnymen, while the director’s cut’s theme is “Never Tear Us Apart” by INXS.

“Donnie Darko” has a lot of foul language and violent activity, so this film is for more mature audiences. You can currently find it on Prime Video, Tubi, Hulu, Peacock, and Paramount+. I give this movie a 10/10 for its memorable cast and unique scenery. The film and its mind-bending narrative force audience members to ask “What just happened?” while enjoying brilliant performances. It truly earns its status as a dark cult classic.