Donnie Darko Analysis & Explanation

19 years ago Donnie Darko released to an underwhelming box office while still receiving decent critical acclaim. Since then its become a cult favorite. Gaining a huge following and being featured in almost every "Top Ten Movies to Rewatch" or "Top Ten Most Confusing Movies" video. Til this day, it's a movie that's not completely understood. I've personally watched every analysis video I could find and all the perspectives are vary. After spending hours trying to explain this film to friends I decided cementing my opinions in a video may lead to some enlightenment for me. Follow me on my journey of enlightenment and lets come to an understanding on one of the wildest movies ever made.
Enjoy and Subscribe!
Rather listen to my reviews? Podcast now available:
anchor.fm/thef...
Sign up for Atlas VPN! It helps build my channel as well :)
Sponsor Link: atlasvpn.go2clo...
MY KZbin GEAR:
Microphone: amzn.to/2Yezzv6
Microphone #2: amzn.to/2LVhcZL
Audio Interface: amzn.to/39VMF5G
Camera: amzn.to/39dk2Sy
Monitor: amzn.to/3c96YiO
Keyboard: amzn.to/3c95HIL
Mouse: amzn.to/39ibXMp
RBG Mousepad: amzn.to/3iNpNt6
HELP ME DECIDE VIDEO TOPICS! Only $3 a month to have your voice heard.
Patreon: / thefilminformer
My website for reviews and top tens:
www.thefilminf...
Facebook:
/ thefilminformer
Insta:
/ filminformer
#donniedarko
#analysis
#videoessay
#movieexplained
#mindtrip
#richardkelly

[@lucaunderground]

Fantastic. Never got how the teachers differed on how to guide Donnie to his goal. He subconsciously rejected their methods because he could sense, they weren't right for him.

[@EmilyLovesYou1998]

This needs more views! Fantastic analysis

[@hiddendragon415]

You are not wrong, it's a professional analysis

[@charlenemoore4301]

This is one of my all time favorite movies and one of the best analysis that I have ever heard of this movie. Thank you so much because every other analysis just tells what they are doing in the movie basically narrating it and not really explaining the movie. But you did it perfectly.

[@jorgkuijt4735]

Watched this movie today for the first time...Loved it but so many unanswered Questions remained... This Video explained alot, but still feeling like I fell into a rabbit-hole... Wait...Rabbits?

[@mkeitstop0]

same :p

[@thefilminformer]

Side Note: This movie has a banger soundtrack. Hope you enjoy the video!

[@Volgan16666]

The first time I watched it I got it. My question is how many times has Donnie woken up on that road? Or how many times has he gone to bed and laughed or smiled to himself knowing that he would be doing it all over again now that he had worked it all out. That knowing smile of his at the end knowing that he had cancelled it all out once again and that the universe at that moment revolved entirely around him. Loved the movie.

[@MeltingBuddhaCandle]

Solid analysis, but I do have a question for you: if Frank is a manipulated dead, isn't he is also the reason for this tangent universe to begin with by saving Donnie? How does that happen to where Frank is both? It's like the chicken and the egg metaphor the way I am understanding this..

[@jacobrouthier8658]

The jet engine he saves him from is the reason for the tangent, frank has to save Donnie or else the tangent world would still exist because of the stray engine and still end up collapsing

[@lafarfalla2273]

​@@jacobrouthier8658 doesn't work, the engine is still a stray object by the end of the movie. Unless it's still destined for oblivion at that point, we just don't get to see it. That would make Donnie's sister the next receiver

[@sidney6002]

Man, great video. I just watched this movie for the second time and I was still lost until I stumbled upon your video. I feel like I need to go watch again lmao.

[@hiddendragon415]

Open to interpretation, you are not wrong. I enjoyed it on a emotional level not really understanding the plot and certainly not the crazy psycho babble dimensional science you explained and it was great.

[@johnsmith45542]

Holy mother of god. I actually found someone who gets Donnie Darko. Great video. I've been wishing for this video for decades, so dummies can understand DD. I can finally die, without arguing with people in DD clips and video essays, who don't get the movie.

[@Matias-zh3dp]

You will die alone just like Donnie with that attitude, which means you also didnt get it.

[@solaria5513]

This movie is trash & makes zero sense

[@cookiewoman8959]

Great job. I've seen a dozen of these videos for this film and this is the most easy to follow explanation.

[@jro1611]

Man this was awesome!! So many connections I didn’t know existed and I’m a big D.D. Fan.

[@ulissesmendoza8752]

This is like the trueman show in a alternate dimension trying to save the primary dimension

[@perrycomeau2627]

A tangible universe may well be a cellar door.

[@Jimdunne_]

Appreciate the analysis. Very professional

[@june4294]

Good job with the explanation!

[@thefilminformer]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@NolenGYT]

By far the best DD video on this platform i’ve seen

[@nnlp5854]

What would happen if manipulated dead's mission failed, will the tangent universe goes on?

[@michaelsherwin4449]

The book is just theory. Donnie has no powers. Frank Bunny is only a manifestation of Donnie's subconscious memories from all the previous times through the loop. The destruction is that the current reality is destroyed when the past is changed. The engine falls into the past. Then 28 days later the engine falls into the past. Then 28 days later ...

[@xxdesiire]

I thought this video was a great explanation of the movie. I was glued to your channel. Have you ever seen Dark on Netflix. There is a lot of tribute to this film and that writers do say that there were influenced by it. Great job

[@colinjones8337]

Why do you think the book is just a theory?

[@michaelsherwin4449]

@@colinjones8337 The book was just a distraction for the audience to buy into. Just a "red herring". There are many red herrings in the movie. And given "the fact" that no one seems to know what is really happening in the movie, shows that they were very good at hiding it. The only thing that affected the outcome of the story is Donnie's subconscious memory of it happening many times already and what he did differently each time.

[@dias8726]

Just watched this movie and I loved it. I don’t even know why 😂

[@r4bbit.t33th]

absolutely fantastic video Donnie Darko is my all time favorite piece of media and my biggest comfort movie :))

[@bandonkadonk]

you explained it so even my pea brain can understand, thank you!

[@readyplayer0b161]

really good analysis, i like how the internal worldbuilding of the book is the main structure! this was the first one that made sense

[@Megan66666]

Dear Lord..... Thank you, watched this years ago and fell deep. I love it so much but it also frustrated me a lot, brilliant now I too am smiling like Donnie :)

[@jimmytwotime8004]

Please check out London City girl explanation. Very,very well explained.

[@Megan66666]

@@jimmytwotime8004 sadly I didn't enjoy it, but thanks anyway

[@lex_rodriguez]

My issue with the Theatrical Cut is that you can't really interpret the film as Donnie just being mentally ill, with everything happening in his head. That interpretation only carries weight if Donnie's death is due to suicide, but it isn't. The final few minutes confirm that he did in fact time travel, but we aren't given anything WITHIN the film to deduce what is happening and why. In the Director's Cut, the mental illness aspect still work from an allegorical point of view.

[@TEEWIK]

But if the jet engine is from the tangent universe (the plane his family is on) how does it crush him in the primary universe? (While his family is in the house with him) seems like a paradox

[@Ukysseus]

14:45 With his powers he sends the jet engine to the primary universe through the time portal (if i understood correctly)

[@ThatNateGuyOnYouTube]

omg I was literally JUST thinking about this movie lol

[@thefilminformer]

Haha awesome! It's one of my all-time favorites, such a classic!

[@dagsterblaster4973]

Nice presentation and delivery!

[@thefilminformer]

Thanks!

[@diago951]

The best explanation.

[@re9279]

Whenever I hear drew barrymore scream in this film I shed a tear or two. That scream is truly primal. My favourite part of the film is after she loses Her job and she walks out of the school and briefly gets stopped from passing Through the door by the American Flag sticking out of Her personal belongings. That was so profound. Great Film!

[@Adrian-uc4ox]

Didn't the Jet engine come from the Tangent Universe? His Mother was on that plane, coming home on the red eye...

[@haydenquakenbush8626]

Yes, but it was his mother from the tangent universe on the plane. Back in the primary she was asleep in bed.

[@ryanstaccio9088]

Very well explained, thank you

[@leviathonCage]

Very nice work. Thanks!

[@ehb2323]

Nice analysis! Thanks

[@monica_gee]

The teachers always confused me. This helps clear it up a bit, but now i'm wondering why drew barrymore's character is the only one not waking up out of the 2 at the end lol

[@mjt_03]

Ohhhh I get it now!

[@wo7493]

The first time someone watches Donnie Darko they are completely in the Dark-o

[@natural_obscurity]

Thank you!! 👏👏👏

[@nicolascanale782]

best broken down analysis yet//

[@pyrogryphon2672]

My one and only question is why this tangent universe even happened in the first place. What was the trigger.

[@thefilminformer]

I'm 99% sure I answered this in the video but just incase it wasn't clear - the jet engine is what started the tangent universe because it contained the specific properties and was traveling at a speed capable of creating a tangent universe according to the book that grandma death gives Donnie.

[@pyrogryphon2672]

@@thefilminformer I got you, thanks for the comment. It was explained that the trigger and artifact was the jet engine but not why it was the jet engine.

[@cristyangonzalez3578]

This makes no sense. So he’s in a tangent universe and has to send something to the main universe to explain the jet engine? So he dies from a random jet engine from another universe? It doesn’t solve anything

[@jeffreyfeels9299]

brahhh i cant do this rn

[@thefilminformer]

Me either 🥴

[@kevinmcnamara7021]

Hi Amanda

[@melvinmcdoogle515]

Southland Tales??

[@perrycomeau2627]

I like the Spanish though; A Cella Dora!

[@romulcah]

I realise that this is your interpretation but i disagree with a few of your fundamental interpretations which has knock on effects to your later analysis.

[@troybrown3585]

He died...

[@snickerzz648]

Yea this is legit for real

[@honeyhey6383]

😍😍😍

[@chasemugga9580]

Trump jfk jr 2020 this movie has been decoded

[@emchristine7757]

How?

[@chasemugga9580]

@@emchristine7757 it would of been

[@chasemugga9580]

@@emchristine7757 u seen movie?