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Donnie Darko Reviews

2001

70
from 69,957 members

Writer-director Richard Kelly's bold debut film is a social satire, a dark comedy, a science fiction time-travelling fantasy, and a suburban nightmare about an extremely intelligent, depressive, self-destructive, narcoleptic, gun-toting, sex-crazed, teenaged arsonist: Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal). DONNIE DARKO is not your .. Read more

Starring	Jake Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Noah Wyle, Patrick Swayze
Director	Richard Kelly
Genres	Drama, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Thriller

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Critic's review of Donnie Darko
View all critics' reviews (6)
- "...Richard Kelly, the first-time writer-director, is obviously talented....He sees his characters freshly and clearly, and never reduces them to formulas. In Jake Gyllenhaal, he finds an actor able to suggest an intriguing kind of disturbance..."
- 11166
- - Chicago Sun
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
Write your own review »
Most helpful member's review of Donnie Darko
View all members' reviews (548)
- - 61
  - 5
  Wonderfully ambitious movie
  
  So much has been said about this film already, but after seeing it I felt compelled to add my thoughts on the movie.
  
  It is ridiculously ambitious, ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 307494
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Aman1
  - Middlesex
  - 10 Aug 2004 at 14:14
Most recent members' reviews of Donnie Darko
View all members' reviews (548)
- - 0
  - 0
  Pleasingly peculiar.
  
  Is Donnie Darko a troubled individual succumbing to things beyond his control... or is the truth even stranger?
  
  I enjoy films that have to rely on ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1103173
- - MDE1138
  - 14 reviews
  - 17 Mar 2012 at 02:53
- - 0
  - 0
  The giant bunny rabbit movie
  
  Best film ever since super man. I like films like this because I love films with a little more timing and plannining: I've got s darko. But it's not ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1088858
- - bronzeranger
  - 26 reviews
  - le676jj
  - 05 Feb 2012 at 02:53
- - 1
  - 0
  Strangely Captivating...
  
  Gripping drama, strange twists and captivating characters. The movie challenges you to make your own emotional decisions on the outcomes of each piece of the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1067195
- - JAndrassy
  - 4 reviews
  - 26 Nov 2011 at 00:55
- - 0
  - 0
  Compelling but weird
  
  Compelling watching but weird, you might have to look up an explanation to the film on the net, but once you start watching this film for some bizarre reason ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1059594
- - Sedge1883
  - 6 reviews
  - Rugby
  - 07 Nov 2011 at 08:56
- - 1
  - 0
  Makes a impact and leaves an impression!
  
  If this film is classed as 'teen comedy' it is extremely DARK comedy! Something about the tone reminds me of American Beauty... there is the element of ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1046836
- - gelfling9
  - 3 reviews
  - 02 Oct 2011 at 10:06
- - 0
  - 0
  Simply stunning
  
  Dark, Moving and visually elegant, this is a stunning piece of work, by a very talented director, but the screenplay is what made the film.
  
  Report this review
- 1043223
- - troyka
  - 1 review
  - Weston-super-Mare
  - 21 Sep 2011 at 13:47
- - 0
  - 0
  Weirdly wonderful!
  
  Dark, yet uplifting and evocative of the era (especially for those of us who lived it as children). Despite a rather messy plot, this plus the beautiful and ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1038147
- - DimiZ
  - 3 reviews
  - 07 Sep 2011 at 23:18
- - 0
  - 0
  Clever and entertaining all the way through.
  
  Definitely much much more than I expected. This is one of those movies that stay with you like Angel Heart. More psychological with plenty of black wit and ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1037428
- - Soozz
  - 8 reviews
  - St Andrews, Scotland
  - 05 Sep 2011 at 23:20
- - 0
  - 0
  A piece of genius
  
  This film is about as perfect as it could be from start to finish. Beautiful, ethereal, brilliant use of the music, satirical, but mostly haunting in a gorgeous... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1034029
- - Anniegetyogun
  - 115 reviews
  - Down South
  - 27 Aug 2011 at 04:08
- - 0
  - 0
  Wierd, Strange
  
  At first i didn't like this movie but then i thought i should give it another chance. When i watched it the second time i was mezmerised. The acting is ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1031479
- - a customer
  - 20 Aug 2011 at 11:20
View all members' reviews (548)

- - 61
  - 5
  Wonderfully ambitious movie
  
  So much has been said about this film already, but after seeing it I felt compelled to add my thoughts on the movie.
  
  It is ridiculously ambitious, ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 307494
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Aman1
  - Middlesex
  - 10 Aug 2004 at 14:14
- - 52
  - 23
  Suprising!
  
  I wasn't expecting much really - it was a 'hollywood blockbuster' and there's not many that really enthral.. but what a shock!
  
  I was ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 314
- - Phil
  - Midlands
  - 04 Nov 2003 at 00:03
- - 47
  - 25
  Lynch for kids
  
  says it all really. Avoid
  
  Report this review
- 65549
- - Ash
  - Glasgow
  - 19 Jan 2005 at 23:55
- - 39
  - 6
  problematic but very clever.....
  
  Much has been made of the need to'explain' this film. It is certainly open to interpretation and is multi-layered but is essentially an intellectual ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 53119
- - a customer
  - Dundee
  - 14 Nov 2004 at 09:58
- - 24
  - 2
  Imagine a cross ...
  
  Imagine a cross between American Beauty and the X Files, with elements of Dead Poets Society thrown in and a Twin Peaks-sized dose of weirdness, and you've ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 25512
- - fiona#1
  - WHITSTABLE
  - 17 Oct 2003 at 09:44
- - 25
  - 14
  Absolute Crap!!!!!
  
  Forget it and watch paint dry!!! Far too deep for me, you'd have to watch it ten times to understand it!
  
  Report this review
- 148895
- - Donnie Crappo
  - Swindon
  - 08 Sep 2005 at 22:28
- - 24
  - 13
  Time travel and a big ugly rabbit
  
  I would consider myself a very good judge of movies, although people have recommended this movie to me I can assure you I have never watched such utter nonsense... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 308365
- - joaly
  - Merseyside
  - 26 Aug 2004 at 18:31
- - 29
  - 22
  I'm not a mindless sheep, so 1 star only. Poor.
  
  This is one of those highly over-rated pieces of crap which tries to excuse itself which the tag of 'cult'. This is not worthy of being cult, definately... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 22748
- - chris
  - Cardiff
  - 23 Oct 2004 at 14:21
- - 19
  - 2
  abandoned it
  
  weird, didn't like it
  
  Report this review
- 500389
- - a customer
  - Basingstoke
  - 02 Dec 2007 at 11:45
- - 17
  - 3
  tears for jewels
  
  If the sixth sense and the others kept you guessing right up to the end don't watch this film....you just won't be able to handle it.
  
  If, ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 2351
- - Liam Brennan
  - Glasgow - Scotland.
  - 22 Feb 2004 at 19:54

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Critics' reviews
- "...Richard Kelly, the first-time writer-director, is obviously talented....He sees his characters freshly and clearly, and never reduces them to formulas. In Jake Gyllenhaal, he finds an actor able to suggest an intriguing kind of disturbance..."
- 11166
- - Chicago Sun
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- "...This home life/high school satire set in someone's twilight zone grabs you and doesn't let go. It's also one of the best cast films of the last decade..."
- 11171
- - USA Today
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- An engaging, darkly comic look at growing up in suburbia; lurid and deliberately confusing in its circular narrative, it is also bracingly original.
- 32206
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:42
- "...A fine film, even an astounding one....DONNIE DARKO has a texture and tang all its own....Haunting and altogether exquisite..."
- 11169
- - Sight and Sound
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- This flawed but promising debut from writer/director Kelly is like The Ice Storm with a surreal psychological twist.... read more on Time Out
- 45516
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:15
- "...A remarkably accomplished piece of filmmaking by a 26-year-old Richard Kelly..."
- 11168
- - Movieline
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- Donnie Darko - Blu-ray
  
  Writer-director Richard Kelly's bold debut film is a social satire, a dark comedy, a science fiction time-travelling fantasy, and a suburban nightmare about an extremely intelligent, depressive, self-destructive, narcoleptic, gun-toting, sex-crazed, teenaged arsonist: Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal)....

- - Buy
- Donnie Darko
  
  Writer-director Richard Kelly's bold debut film is a social satire, a dark comedy, a science fiction time-travelling fantasy, and a suburban nightmare about an extremely intelligent, depressive, self-destructive, narcoleptic, gun-toting, sex-crazed, teenaged arsonist: Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal)....