DONNIE DARKO | The Meaning and Philosophy | EXPLAINED

[@bearencounter3184]

“Why are you wearing that stupid bunny suit?” *”Why are you wearing that stupid man suit”*

[@irishjoe2941]

I laugh at that scene still

[@giornogiovanna836]

Nice quote, what movies it from?

[@ginaorta5737]

@@giornogiovanna836 donnie darko , the movie theatre scene

[@mdouet]

Was this line meant to be a joke, or did it have some meaning that I'm not getting?

[@bearencounter3184]

@@mdouet it was a joke, I don’t think there was special meaning behind it

[@santhu9221]

The whole purpose of this movie was to question our commitment to Sparkle Motion

[@DiorTM-j4t]

Lmao

[@CornholioPuppetMaster]

We definitely have to write a song about how we do not diddle kids

[@ethanportillo9840]

This is the best comment I’ve ever seen 😭😂

[@notanotherwargamer]

i hate and love you

[@evanabbott2737]

Yes! I was just thinking about that line when I saw the thumbnail..😁👍

[@nickmattio3397]

The drunk Smurfs debate was hilarious

[@antoniopacelli]

@The RIGHT side of the story Smurfettes... Underrated blondes with a face of stone and an Heart of Gold... They might even convincing you there isn't a soul underneath their bodies.. They couldn't ever been so much wrong... Still Hydrogenated compounds are bad and mostly dangerous... I would go Green in Blue

[@glitchkit6020]

Did you just say smurfs

[@slyhaarden5018]

“Aw man Donnie why you gotta get all smart on us”

[@davidl6332]

nope

[@kakolovessharks]

I watched it with my family and I was the only one who laughed. shit was awkward

[@JAProductions494]

TBH the ending felt so tragic to me Donnie thinks that his sacrifice will be for the greater good and it does save Gretchen but his death leaves his family absolutely distraught. For me, I always saw that as a message about suicide. How a victim thinks that their death will be better for themselves and everybody else but in reality, a lot of their families will be devastated. I may be looking into it too much

[@kco9189]

He saves Frank too.

[@christopherhughes6896]

@@kco9189 He saves the pedo too

[@travisfrench5137]

He doesn't just save Gretchen, he prevents the tangent universe from sucking everything into a black hole.

[@pastelshinigami]

That is an interesting theory actually. Less of a brain ache compared.

[@thecloneguyz]

But his family wasn't devastated at all They saw it as he's finally free and in no pain

[@BovineDesigns]

The glitch in the timeline was Matthew McConaughey pushing books off a shelf from the 5th dimension.

[@isrealdiaz3899]

Which also caused the death of the rainmaker's parents.

[@texasred1000]

That makes sense

[@gettzgritty]

@bovine designs I can confirm this as true as I was the books that fell

[@LatinoJackson]

Turns out the engine came from Tom Hanks' FedEx plane which is how he ended up on that damn island

[@mechanoid2k]

@@LatinoJackson Epstein island?

[@sladewilson9741]

The creation of the tangent universe wasn't the engine falling/not falling. The engine always falls. The creation was Donnie living. Which as you said was created by Frank in the first place. He was saved to be told he had to not be saved. Great movie.

[@darrensucksatgames]

The problem is it seems like at the end of the movie, the jet engine crashes in the past, which I think is what actually does it. The engine is supposed to fall, yes, but it’s supposed to fall at the point that the plane departs which is towards the end of the movie, but Frank saves Donnie in the past before it happens, so it is weird because it seems that the loop may in fact be a bandaid the 4th dimensional entities use to give Donnie the time to correct it, but the initial tear was from something else prior to the events of the movie, but that doesn’t make sense either because then all Donnie has to do is die. So It’s weird. Either way we’re left with an engine in the normal universe where a jet engine appeared out of nowhere and whoever woke Donnie up is the real culprit.

[@leilaniramos7328]

@@mnewman7775 i agree this would make the most sense tbh

[@mdouet]

So it's a circular time loop?

[@filmcomicsexplained]

Love this!

[@Thor-Orion]

He was saved by a man he kills in order to come to accept that he must die before he can kill the man who is only able to save him with powers acquired from dying.

[@Laxboss69]

Watched this as a teen and didn’t really understand what had just happened. Watched it several times as an adult and I didn’t really understand what just happened lol.

[@RainbowRenegade]

Directors Cut explains pretty much everything you need to connect the dots yourself.

[@Ilovepoopin]

It's... sadly just pretentious shit as far as I can tell. My friends and I sat there and talked about it for months. I've come to the conclusions that it's just someone who's trying to seem more deep than it really is. It's using pseudo-science mixed with philosophy. In short, it seems to be about determinism. Maybe I am wrong here, but after so long I got tired of people acting like the movie is deep.

[@sabojezles]

@@Ilovepoopin Think for a bit here, is not that the movie is deep it's simply that the movie deeply affected a ton lot of people, whether the movie itself is objectively deep or not, it has enough stuff pack in there that makes people want to explore and dive deep into this world. I personally don't see it as a deep film but more as a film with its own mythology, that's what attracts people to it so much, I guess, is like it is its own world, which in fact and objectively is.

[@Ilovepoopin]

@@sabojezles That is a very good point.

[@sabojezles]

@@Ilovepoopin The movie excels at that in a very objective way creating its own lore, it succeeds in that regard, it has all those fantastic elements thrown into a film about teenage angst. Hence its impact. Thank you!

[@Gargarks]

No one ever talks about the deeper human themes in this movie. The focus is always on the time travel aspect. Thank you for focusing on the things and themes that have made this movie special to me.

[@kamikazehound3243]

I seen the og and was confused in the purpose, I felt the movie had two themes, Donnie's feelings of himself and the time travel with those themes slowly blending together towards the end. I wanted to see the version the director made after with the excerpts.

[@benconway9010]

What deeper human themes? The film was always about time travel and parallel worlds and what Donnie had to put right because of him living when he shouldn’t of been living

[@ilqar887]

Time travel is not the meaning of the film but just the tool

[@Gargarks]

@@ilqar887 this exactly

[@rickymoala7710]

Have y’all heard of Steins;Gate?

[@Ge0rgio]

I think Donnie had been living in this loop for a while and this time he knew he was going to end it by sacrificing his life, remember that one scene where Gretchen said Donnie’s name was like some kind of superhero name, and Donnie replied “what makes u think im not?”

[@owcal135]

I like this idea a lot. Makes a lot more sense to me. So are you Implying that Donnie has none frank his whole life?

[@Ge0rgio]

@@owcal135 not sure, gonna have to rewatch i have the memory of an ant lol.

[@owcal135]

@@Ge0rgio all good haha. Also I meant known* not none

[@thomasmcsweeney7786]

Frank’s voice is both chilling yet harmonic. Why?

[@filmcomicsexplained]

Great sound design and voice work by James Duval. I think Frank's voice is supposed to resemble the way someone's voice can sound distorted to you when you're in a trance, deliberately mirroring the hypnotherapy sessions Donnie had with Dr Thurman.

[@RainbowRenegade]

@@filmcomicsexplained interesting theory

[@thomasmcsweeney7786]

Oh okay. Thank you!

[@Peapodmaster]

@@filmcomicsexplained I know this is a while later that when this video was posted- but I’m not sure if you knew that there are two different versions of the movie with different voices for frank- one of him whispering and the other one that makes him sound ethereal. I think that as he is coming from the tangent universe the change in voice from the “whispering” frank is to show even more that he isn’t actually there and he is in fact from another universe

[@stui0ham]

Sounds abit like Michael Jackson to me

[@SnakeWasRight]

I just realized that Cunningham had to go down so that Donnie's mom would be out of town so that the party could happen so that Frank would be drunk driving.

[@mr.dudemeister7321]

but how had Frank figured that out?

[@JeffJeff-jm6nn]

@@mr.dudemeister7321after he died he was used as a vessel to time travel to warn Donnie, and as he experienced it he knew what had to happen , also maybe he was able to be in Donnie’s mind as well and see his memories etc

[@sell_or_stfu8405]

Ohhhh so the success is that Donnie finally meets frank. Is that what closes the hole? I never understand how he gets into his room at the end.

[@SnakeWasRight]

@@sell_or_stfu8405 doesn't he just walk into his room and wait for the plane?

[@josephruddock1928]

I also believe that the 28 days we see donnie living out are not the first he has experienced. In fact he's been repeating this loop for sometime until he finally gets it or is ready to die. Theres a few lines in the move made by donnie that i believe to support the idea of him having experienced things already. For example "Well, I'm really glad school was flooded today because this conversation never would have happened" he knows this as a fact because he's already experienced the day without flooding the school.

[@BuryEdmund]

Interesting thought that I do like, but that theory is unfortunately at odds with Theory of Time Travel

[@g1epin990]

No because he wouldn’t have been at that place in time to meet up with them to have that conversation had the school not had flooded. That’s obvious

[@jacobcardinal8041]

Or he said that because they dont talk at school much and they got a chance to talk that day. You just decided that you like the idea that he's living a groundhog day type existence even though there is nothing in the movie to support that. Not everything has to be theorized.

[@josephruddock1928]

@@jacobcardinal8041maybe...maybe not. This video encourages theorising. The movie is made to make you think about what is really going on. I haven't set my mind on it just offered a different perspective to the usual

[@jacobcardinal8041]

@@josephruddock1928 Theories should be based on something. Just cause you like groundhog day doesnt mean every movie is it. Like for example if i said i think in forrest gump he is actually asleep and plugged into the matrix the whole movie that makes no sense at all

[@joshschneider3134]

Jake Gyllenhaal is one of my favorite actors. This movie and bubble boy got him in the spotlight

[@daltooinewestwood6380]

Mysterio is my favorite Spider-Man villain and I absolutely loved Hake Gyllenhaals performance

[@iletthedogsout91]

October Sky, Donnie Darko and Brokeback Mountain are my favorite Gyllenhaal movies.

[@RainbowRenegade]

He's so young in that film it's kinda funny.

[@gangstalkerofgangstalkers]

I agree with this statement.

[@ubzSS]

let's not forget City Slickers. haha

[@IndigobluBeauty]

“CHUT UP!!” one of my favorite movies and it’s one take scene when Tears for Fears plays is just *chef’s kiss❤️

[@samanthalennon7508]

Lol I still say chut up and no one ever gets it 🤣

[@ericphilen3433]

She represents the innocence And if you notice, Her character sees EVERYTHING in the movie that everyone doesn’t see

[@IndigobluBeauty]

@@ericphilen3433 im going to have to watch it again just to watch her! I swear i see something new each time i watch it!

[@CrueLxMelodY]

"Never Tear us apart" was amazing to have as the opening song as well. "Two worlds collided..." etc etc. Basically outlining one of the plot points. Didn't realize that until a few years of watching the movie a lot lmfao

[@LogicbyDesign]

This movie was way deeper than people have it credit for . Crazy that this movie may have a sliver of truth to it.

[@santoryu_3]

Nah ppl say its way deeper than it actually is

[@tuanjim799]

@@santoryu_3 Nah. You'll get there someday.

[@bobw1678]

@@tuanjim799 Nah, I'm a grown adult, not a pretentious kid trying to convince myself that I'm like, super smart and insightful, and all, you know bro? This is a B-movie pretending to have something valuable to say. You saw the movie as an "edgy" teen and liked it simply because adults didnt, and adults didnt like it because they could see it for the pretentious trash it was. When you grow up you'll understand.

[@tuanjim799]

@@bobw1678 Who cares if it's a B-movie? Indie films can't have important/weighty themes? That's a dumb take. I'm 33. I just watched the movie again recently after many years and found it very affecting and thought-provoking, even more so than when I watched it as a teenager. The real bottom line here is, just because you didn't "get" a particular piece of art doesn't automatically mean that other people who like it are somehow lying to themselves or pretending to be smart or whatever the hell strawman you have built up in your head.

[@Rob_M_8]

@@bobw1678 just because you didn’t understand it doesn’t make the movie pretentious. That’s just the excuse people say when they don’t understand a movie. You also can’t just class all teens and adults in 2 separate groups, movie critics and regular movie watchers on average like this movie. So to say adults hated it sounds like you just wanna feel good about yourself for not liking it and you want to put down a bunch of people who you perceive as naive children for no reason other than self gratification. If anyone’s pretentious here it’s you

[@David-kg5nn]

I first watched this at 2am after coming home from the club. I was so captivated it by it that by the end of it, I knew I had experienced something profound, I just didn't know quite what it was. I appreciated the stories, performances, and the challenge the movie presents.

[@iceheart1289]

Rest in peace Patrick Swayze 😪

[@esppupsnkits4560]

Jeopardy dude is dead too

[@user-cm9ef4fw7m]

whis dat

[@b.m.2216]

Even he only has a few Minutes screentime i rly liked his play. Great actor

[@Joaquin546]

I NEVER NOTICED!!

[@RustyShacklefordddd]

ROAD HOUSE!!!

[@RainbowRenegade]

Female teacher was an incredibly cool character in that film.

[@CoopDVille-rx3hp]

And was portrayed by someone without which this film would not exist.

[@RainbowRenegade]

@@CoopDVille-rx3hp woah, I didn't know that.

[@CoopDVille-rx3hp]

@@RainbowRenegade yeah man. Turns out Miss Barrymore is a pretty cool chick. Flower Pictures was her production company. Also,I watched like a two hour E! Hollywood True Stories about her and she seems like such a chill,down to Earth chick. She has a real "girl next door" quality about her.

[@mdouet]

She was pretty good in ET as well.

[@Catalyna]

@@mdouet and Firestarter, and Everafter

[@SpartanHighKing14]

That giant bunny rabbit used to terrify me as a child, and it still does.

[@I_discovered_civilization]

It watches your movements, it watches you sleep every night..

[@whimbrella]

he cute

[@0Lottee0]

I was like..11 or 12ish when I saw this with my parents, who thought it was just a generic spooky movie to rent and they hated it. I definitely didn't grasp a lot of concepts, y'know being a tiny little biscuit and all, but I actually liked it a lot and it resonated with me in a way I don't think it did with adults? Maybe because I was right at that cusp of when kids begin to question the world and themselves? What I do know for sure is my mom was totally super lame not letting me dress up as 'the creepy rabbit man' for Halloween.

[@ryan.1990]

>tiny little biscuit Lol

[@jinpachibobochan3532]

"little biscuit" lol, I'm going to memorize this XD

[@aBlueMoon91]

I was around the same age as you when I watched it ,11 or 12. I drew frank and I think it freaked out my mum hahaha . Not sure what happened to that art , may have gotten thrown out lol. Wish I still had it .

[@useyourimaginasean]

I hope you got to dress up as frank this year

[@echognomecal6742]

I also love the "tiny little biscuit" bit, but wanted to share that a tiny little biscuit Trick-or-Treated at my place for Halloween year before last as a Perfect "It" clown & it was so disturbing that I completely forgot to tell the other kids how nice their costumes were...which will sadden me until my dying day. I kept staring & mumbling ohmygod...much to his (her?) delight.

[@LaFaveBros]

"Fear and Love" are also the two paths Donnie can choose knowing the jet engine will fall. He can save Gretchen and the world or himself. Even though he's right that its a simplistic way to divvy up human emotions, as Drew Barrymore says, "its supposed to be ironic!"

[@rkn2800]

I used this story and film in a high school senior English class around the topic of archetypes, linear stoy telling and interrupted linear story telling (the whole loop of the tangent universe, etc). Amazingly most students got it and wrote about how they came to understand it by describing their point of view of the storyline. That lesson will always stay with me. Years later, some of those now adults recounted to me that whole experience with that lesson. DD is definitely meaningful.

[@traviscummings9178]

This kinda reminds me of that scene in Watchmen where Dr. Manhattan says that despite his powers, he's still a puppet to fate, he's just able to see the strings. I don't recall the exact quote, but it was somewhere along those lines

[@mechanoid2k]

Yep, it's called enlightenment....and synchronicity.

[@ericphilen3433]

The Watchmen was a great movie as well 👍

[@ArkaeaFCL3]

I cant tell you how many times I had to rewatch this film trying to understand what's happening. Thanks for the explanation! This movie is deep!

[@risiathelemon]

Awesome pfp

[@ShadowBroker000]

@@risiathelemon second that

[@ericphilen3433]

Very thought provoking and open to interpretation Fantastic film for sure!

[@craven99]

Love your analysis. You’ve obviously a huge amount of love and respect for this movie

[@filmcomicsexplained]

I do :)

[@r4bbit.t33th]

one of my biggest comfort films and overall my all time favorite movie its genuinely a master piece thank you for doing such a wonderful job talking about it

[@0okcin605]

mommy

[@jaredfortin6810]

"Now that we understand what happened in the film.." *me not understanding* 👁👄👁

[@MisaelMatute76]

Really? Its pretty simple: The movie takes place in an alternate universe in the future (just a few days). Donnie is the only one that realizes this (or is starting to, thanks to Frank and others). At the end he figures it out and finds a way back to the "real" universe. He creates a portal, sends the engine back to the "real" universe, so that there is no more "anomalies" in the alternative universe. The alternative universe gets undone and he wakes up in the "real" universe. He is happy with this result and chooses to just go back to sleep, even though he knows the engine will fall on his bedroom. The other characters vaguely remember the other universe.. The end.

[@muchojefe]

@@MisaelMatute76 So it’s like a dream?

[@MisaelMatute76]

@@muchojefe Lol no. Its an alternate timeline, but only Donnie fully remembers living on that timeline.

[@lexi5485]

I remember a old friend of mine getting me to watch this movie. I knew there was a deep meaning to this movie It's just hard to peice together.

[@filmcomicsexplained]

Hope this video helped!

[@lexi5485]

Yes this has helped a lot 👍.

[@lexi5485]

Me and this person both have "eccentric" minds so it makes sense why he wanted me to watch this with him. He was probably wanting to see what my thoughts were on this movie but It's the kind of movie that requires intense deep thinking and to re-watch a few times. Glad I stumbled across this video!

[@Kageoni187]

Hands down one of my best random movie pick ups from Blockbuster. The cover grabbed my attention and I just knew I had to see it. Absolute love this movie. You do such an amazing job researching and producing fantastic videos.

[@spainman2020]

This is why when Grethen said his name sounds like some kind of superhero and he said "how do you know I'm not" is not only some playa ish, but foreshadowing.

[@ericphilen3433]

Exactly He pulled her with that line 😂

[@hippiecheezburger5457]

Donnie Darko is one of the greatest cult classics of all time, seen it so many times and it always just floors me

[@edbeasant9494]

Donnie is chosen because he was at epicentre when the tangent universe was created which was above his house.

[@DoctorGnu]

This movie also points out the focus of many in humanity, such as vanity and other sins and how certain things are glorified over others , such as Sparkle motion over Cheritas performance on stage. How as a society what gets glorified is not purity and love but vanity and or surface experience or plainly said vain expressions. Cheritas character represents purity and or see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil. And Donnie of corse the hero of the story. People also need to understand that Donnie is pearing through time throughout the entire movie while he sleep walks and when he enters Gretchen's sphere chest bubble. He then sees her fate and that is why he says right at that moment .. we have to go and his supportive ride or die friends join him without question get on their bikes and leave to Roberta Sparrows house. The poetry is so epic because I don't think people understand that Donnie is still actively choosing to follow through with and follow along what he refers to the teacher as God's Channel. So when he says that to the teacher and says not if your falling with in God's set Channel and or path. That is a foresight to explain that Donnie has come to understand that he has to follow along with thus and what is leading him and why if he wants to reset or alter things to a better reality. In fact I would go as far to say that he understands this in the opening scene when he first wakes up on the hilltop or mountain. He just trys to get clarity about something he already knows throughout the whole movie, while still trying to change things for the better in that first place reality. He wants to change things , but realizes he can only change them by c9ntinuing down thus time Channel and follow God's path . He enters the time Port hole in the end they don't show it but that's how he ends up back at that first moment in time before the jet engine hits. He knows this is where it all began and in order to save that reality his death will galvanize everyone and change the tone of their lives and in turn save them all. It's a beautiful sacrifice. Yes they all wake up with a sense of reference or semblance from the other reality. However it is because the spirit of his sacrifice that allows that spirit to go out. Thus like Jesus christ dieing and telling everyone only after He Jesus is gone, will the helper come .. the holy spirit. So in turn it is Donnies spiritual energy and exchange that allows there to be an almost energy exchange if you will that fuels the spirt and enables the others who were not so divinely inclined to see there fates from the other reality or awake up call to there short comings. It is a masterpiece of a movie . With both the musical score in perfect sink with Devine education taking place and beautifully told, of our world and what us as humans worship. Love you all God bless

[@troya.8594]

I didn't even think to use Christ's sacrifice as an analogy. That was brilliant on your part. Donnie had the same kind of task as Jesus when they both knew the outcome but yet still went through with it. It's crazy to realize that even after the horror that will come, you'll still sacrifice yourself because you yourself know that it's a clear path to a better ending. Great deduction!

[@DoctorGnu]

@@troya.8594 why thank you kind sir. But all the glory belongs to God. The holy spirit is the one that reviews things to me. But thank you very much and may God bless, lead and guide you in Jesus name amen.

[@Artesian_mirage]

Best interpretation i've read so far here

[@joelaaplacido]

great analogy, amen

[@rexmas1.]

Amazing analysis

[@DigitalAnimal05]

The plot of Donnie Darko is like a puzzle.. Every time I rewatch it I find out something new.. I love it

[@tommyjames9248]

From the beginning of the movie Donnie had lived through that 28 days many times and always knew about the tangent universe and what he had to do but was always unwilling to do it as he didn’t want to die alone. Enter pretty and vulnerable Gretchen. There’s obviously much more to this movie than that but at its core that’s essentially what takes place. It’s also possible that he knew what exactly happened to create the tangent universe and why he was given the responsibility of making things right but the movie never reveals this for sure.

[@cheefzed985]

how do you know donnie lived through that 28 days many times exactly?

[@claireramirez1990]

@@cheefzed985 perhaps because if he doesn't die, it's always gonna be a loop, no matter what. Anything could happen if he doesn't die but it will always lead to a loop, until he's finally ready to die and end this loop.

[@claireramirez1990]

@@cheefzed985 and maybe by the line “if school hadn't flooded, this conversation would've never happened”

[@cheefzed985]

@@claireramirez1990 correct. The flood led to them meeting. And Love led to him be willing to sacrifice himself. I was just wondering if OP could explain how he knows 100% Donnie had lived this 28 day loop many times.

[@JeffJeff-jm6nn]

@@cheefzed985maybe not conscientiously but subconsciously

[@blackblurable]

The one thing this confirmed was a belief I held as a kid. “Everyone (All living things) dies alone.” Such a great film and thanks for taking a crack at this. My friend and I were the only ones to appreciate this film. It’s awesome

[@notarobot2243]

He chooses to save a world that labeled him insane, even though the movie shows how insane the world is.

[@wakenow1]

You could tell he was 160+ IQ by shutting down the teachers fear/love scale, and destroying the swayze at his own seminar.

[@ericphilen3433]

Exactly

[@ericphilen3433]

It’s an allegory just like the parables Gospels of Jesus Christ

[@MrMerseyblue]

I remember a mate of mine lending me this film, I was blown away by it. I wont say I knew exactly what was going on but knew I had just watched something special.

[@irreverentbard7322]

Watched this movie over 15 years ago... and still having my mind blown.

[@mdouet]

Just one question...what kind of person falls asleep watching Evil Dead in a theater?

[@avocado_v8718]

LMAO fr

[@ponyride23]

Did you even see the movie? Gretchen "falls asleep" as an ensurance trap, she's a Manipulated Living, her falling asleep let's Donnie burn down the pedo's house. She's quite literally being manipulated, you got the idea of it right but didn't reach the conclusion; no one could fall deeply asleep watching ED, hence she's being manipulated to do so.

[@louistown7835]

@@ponyride23 I think it was a joke mate

[@420za3]

I did 😂 then I was in the movie in my dream

[@wesleyprince3465]

That ain't even what bothered me, what bothered me was that it was in the first like 7 minutes of the movie💀

[@maxgarcia9697]

As I watched I wondered about the glitch and began to wonder about Grandma Death. For her to be able to write the book and to possess such a knowledge of what truthfully are facts of this cinematic universe, she would have to also be a Living Receiver. Perhaps the existence of two Living Receivers would be enough to create an event that brings about the destruction of the primary universe. I thoroughly enjoyed this video, it is honestly an amazing movie that I love every time I watch so thank you for the great content!

[@jay.ostojic]

cool take!

[@miffedcuttlefish6139]

Maybe it's the reason she only goes from her house to her mailbox, except to utter some important words to Donnie. She may know that her leaving any other path would be far more deadly.

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

@@miffedcuttlefish6139Suppose she’s supposed to get an Artifact in the mail? Or maybe the mailbox itself is an Artifact?

[@miffedcuttlefish6139]

@@nuclearcatbaby1131 could be,I like that theory. I like the idea of someone being torture by truth so much as to have gone from brilliance to ashes with the sole purpose of getting one important message out.

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

@@miffedcuttlefish6139 She reminds me of the “bag lady” I saw when I lived in Johnstown PA. She was a brilliant mathematician from India who went crazy and whose house got condemned and she became homeless and living at the Salvation Army and could be seen out every day collecting cans for recycling.

[@LemonCups]

If you watch this movie with the director’s commentary, all is revealed. He explains everything.

[@esmith8887]

Such an underrated movie. One of, if not THE MOST influential movie of my life. It’s such a deep thought that questions everything in a very entertaining way. I watched this movie at a very pivotal time in my life. If slotted many themes and questions I had about life into a 2 hour movie. I still think about this movie all the time. It’s more powerful than any religious or philosophical text I’ve ever come across. Genius on every level.

[@robhrouda]

When I watched the movie the first time, I really wanted to understand the meaning of why things were happening, and what else could have been done about it. To know what else could have been done though, you need more details, and those details never really manifest in the movie. On my second watch it finally clicked - there doesn't have to be a reason for things - things just happen, and we are left to deal with them in what ways we can. Trying to define the "why" or "how" can at times be pointless - we must simply act on what is before us, and act with our limited knowledge. To at least do something, and not be paralyzed by the many questions that a situation can bring. It's like a car wreck. You shouldn't stand by and question why or who is fault. You shouldn't try to understand every detail of the situation. You should take action and move to help everyone, no matter who may be at fault or what could have caused the accident. Take action and do something, with that something being whatever you know what it is to do. We don't have the gift of knowing all things about something, and so we must act on what we do know, to at least do something.

[@dkal7112]

Appreciate it thats gonna help me in the future

[@Chasstful]

It's all about extra-dimensionality

[@fonzarellyplay370]

That’s why all cars need cameras lol

[@smartgenes1]

He is told "Pay attention". When you pay attention you notice the details in the film you need.

[@samhaines8228]

I had suspected that Donnie's transcendent awareness was a manifestation of the dimensional glitch. The irony being his acceptance of his death facilitates the closing of the loop.

[@bdaddy8271]

I was literally thinking of this the other day and remembering Franks quote “i can do what ever i want Donnie, and so can you.” But pleas dont do the sequel, that movie was just trying to be to deep and confusing

[@kco9189]

Donnie is literally the ultimate super hero.

[@Rorolimon]

I have been waiting for this video a long time, and was pleasantly surprised when I saw it on my recommended page. Thx for making it

[@m1keway266]

This is one of my all time favorite films. Cellar Door.

[@ericphilen3433]

Fantastic brilliant film for sure A masterpiece!

[@D0NU75]

tmw when you can make more sense of Donnie Darko than current global events.

[@cypherusuh]

Actual international politics is difficult, you need doctorate to qualify and work on that subject

[@wendigo4935]

That moment when when

[@royriley6282]

There are two competing global systems, one centered in China and the other in the US. The political elites in the former and financial elites in the later form an oligarchy which rules their respective societies. In the former this is achieved publicly via authoritarianism while in the later is achieved in secret via fauxdemocracy. These two elite classes vie for dominance over second and third world countries which act as resource stations to fuel the insustainable growth of both competing global systems. No doctorate required.

[@cypherusuh]

@@royriley6282 that is far from layman's term, just so you know.

[@godwarrior3403]

@@royriley6282 That's an over complicated rundown of the illuminati theory essentially. "They" wanna rule the world" is all you had to say.

[@patricequeen1156]

I absolutely needed this!!! This is one of my all time favorite movies in existence and I learn more every time I watch it. Although not as good as the original, I would appreciate seeing the sequel broken down as the roles of Donnie and Samantha are different!

[@jcauley9]

So many variable interpretation. I loved battling my friends on the meanings

[@krillin2591]

This is my favorite movie of all time, there is no debate about it. I’m so glad people are still talking about this movie. It baffles me... to this day. I just bought the 4k restored verion of the movie.

[@Koi_Swirl]

Thank you, this was very eye opening. I saw this movie as a kid a couple of times and I feel like I finally understand most of it.

[@TheSg9090]

I've been looking forward to this! :D

[@NoWhiteLighters]

It's always nice to see videos on my favorite movie pop up. Love this movie so much I got 28:06:42:12 tattooed on my arm exactly how Donnie wrote it

[@EmilyVioletMarie]

This movie made me love the song head over heels!

[@KeeganRusz]

Same. This movie is a huge influence in my love for 80s music.

[@shainewhite2781]

This is brilliant Movie from start to finish.

[@pacojerte2085]

Which now 20 years later is a miracle considering how trash Richard is as a director/writer

[@shainewhite2781]

@BabyChainGang I haven't seen it yet. But I'll get around to it.

[@ericphilen3433]

@@pacojerte2085lol He knew he could never replicate lighting in a bottle again Fantastic film and a brilliant masterpiece hence why you are commenting on a explanation of his film… 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@Name-ps9fx]

We are _all_ Donnie Darko, and we are _all_ the “living (or dead) helpers.” Like the great rock band RUSH sang...”all the world’s a stage...we are merely players.”

[@Jukinj94]

They are actually quoting Shakespere.

[@TheSkullConference]

Well, famous musicians have a glimpse behind the curtain that most of us don't. They get to see how much influence the elite have over our lives in addition to their beliefs in occultism. I do not believe in the occult or lizard people, but it's hard for me to accept that the government doesn't crave power and influence. It's a natural human instinct to be greedy and reach a climax of satisfaction which is why so many celebrities are depressed even though they have so much. It's my understanding that the elite use occult practices to maintain a sense of purpose in their lives.

[@janinemaler1801]

Covid is the tangent universe

[@glenndouglas8822]

Shakespeare ya bloody NUMBNUT. Rush 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

[@TexasRy]

GREAT BREAKDOWN, thanks! Donny D is one of my favorite movies of all time, set in 1988, the soundtrack to the movie is EASILY one of the best ever, great music!

[@wynntonterrace9615]

I’m still assuming that frank was trying to save Donnie from himself by giving him a vision of his own fate but it fell on deaf ears because he wasn’t openly welcomed inside the head of Donnie. Frank can possibly be a angel of some sort but Donnie envisioned Frank as some type of demonic like influence because the foresight he was sharing with Donnie wasn’t too Donnie liking. It’s like the voices in our head can be taken as either good or bad, if it’s accepted as a positive our vision of the messenger will be angel like but if we take these voices as negatives then our vision of the messenger would be demon like. It’s like you have to have a good relationship with yourself and you’ll understand that talking to yourself isn’t bad and everything that you see everyone won’t. This movie is actually a deep thought provoking movie that you’ll either enjoy because of the mystery or you’ll hate because of the mystery lol everyone responsible for this movie Thanks.

[@Midwestemoisme]

(my theory or from what i understand by reviewing the pages written in the book) Frank, is an entity or entities that control the universe and oversee space n time, Tangent universes are created when an artifact (usually something metal) is duplicated from nothing, these objects and tangent universes are very unstable and can create black holes that would destroy the world. So as soon as that Jet engine manifested in the world the tangent universe was created to give that artifact a reason for existing. Frank was the entities directed Donnie to create that situation in his world.

[@BuryEdmund]

Unfortunately if the artifact isn't returned then all universes collapse. Donnie was always doomed to die

[@davivignola5895]

This was such a fundamental film at the point of my life I saw it in the theater... thank you for going over this.

[@TMoore-sy7ht]

Seen as a kid just for the bunny and never understood how deep it was now I gotta watch again

[@decaygrim8943]

I was exposed to this movie when I was about 13 or 14 and as I progress through life in the next decade, you kind of slowly unravel The movie in your head at least, that’s how it was for me

[@spicedcoffee9902]

I just watched Donnie Darko yesterday and didn't get the meaning. You guys are amazing....you aren't reading my mind are you?

[@MAGAMER1300]

Amazon prime film?

[@CorbCorbin]

Watch the video made by LondonCityGirl on the movie.

[@2ingrams]

It still doesn't make sense. Why would a vision of frank pull him away from the plane wreck at night just to have him do it all over again so many days later. Then again how could there have been a engine hitting his house to begin with had they not already whent thru this prior? Then at the end when he's on the side of the road with his girlfriend looking out at the portal far away he never whent in the time warp his mother and sister did so wouldn't they have been the ones that whent back in time while he stayed for the end of he world?

[@MUZA1875]

One of my fave fims ever. watched it so many times as a teenager.

[@shadynnewell825]

@Black Illuminati it’s not half as good. You can tell they weren’t planning on making a second movie when they made the first movie

[@keggs73]

I loved this film once it came out, on top of everything mentioned in this video, there is even more. There is the awesome music!! The Director's cut has different music in places but it is still brilliant!!

[@yusefendure]

This is the most coherent and moving explanation of Donnie Darko. Sincere thanks!

[@MatthewGill-nv4tb]

I seemed to think the old lady was Gretchen and her existence was what created the tangent universe. Even one of the first scenes with Gretchen she turns away from the road and steps into it.... the old lady is always almost struck by cars.... and in her later years, she's just like on autopilot acting out what's eventually going to happen....

[@ericphilen3433]

Love this Never thought about it in that light!

[@gangstalkerofgangstalkers]

One of my favourite movies. Watched it as a young teen and like many did not understand it. Good video.

[@wholegrainhunter]

I'll be honest, I wasn't ready for Donnie Darko to show up here

[@KyleSmith-bp2fe]

Literally watched it over Halloween so it freaked me out seeing it dissected in 2020

[@neomcghee]

ive watched several 'donnie darko explained' videos, but this was the best one.

[@DCfromBC]

I don't think Donnie travels between the tangent and primary universes when he's in his trances throughout the movie (as this video states). I think the tangent universe is everything we see from the morning the jet engine misses Donnie - he sidestepped his fate and therefore put the path of time on a tangent. He then time travels back to that morning to re-enter the primary universe at the end of the movie and gets hit by the engine, fulfilling his proper fate and saving the lives of those who died in the tangent universe.

[@Sarakindamt]

Yeah that's what I think too

[@mrmcburgertown7650]

I will forever be confused, but honestly I like your explanation the most. I like to think the whole movie is a predetermined path in the tangent universe to get back into the primary universe. The thing I don’t get is why would Frank save him from the accident at the beginning, if he also helps Donnie through the movie to get back into the primary universe in which he doesn’t survive the accident?

[@miffedcuttlefish6139]

This is the way I understood this film but not able to articulate it perfectly as you did.

[@miffedcuttlefish6139]

​​​@@mrmcburgertown7650 I understood it as Donnie not really feeling in place among the life he was born into. Or maybe that he if he had died, he may not have been able to be a net positive to the lives of the people he touched. When he died, everybody was to some level sticken or sad, even when PU Frank hadn't even met him yet, but hd the sense that something would happen. If the TU Frank hadn't shown him how people were influenced by him, namely Gretchen, I don't think he wouldve been able to go back with a smile. He found something to sacrifice for, whereas up until the start of the movie when we're introduced to the World, he didn't have much to look forward to. I never saw it as a death sentence. Just a sacrifice. And that made it a bittersweet film for me.

[@raymundoo2879]

This movie makes me cry .. in a weird ass way. I'm not sad it just reminds me of something super familiar

[@nicodysseus2910]

The first time I saw it I thought the tangent universe was created and Donnie sent himself back in time to guide himself and he appeared as frank. It took me multiple viewings to fully understand this movie and for that I love it

[@insuranceinsight6001]

Love this movie since my first viewing. I like to think Donnie was chosen bc he had his level of understanding mixed with it being OK to sacrifice himself and his mind could be at peace and making the madness stop and save the world(s) he roamed in.

[@quorthonthegreat5649]

The soundtrack for this movie.....HOOOOOO the soundtrack. 🐰😎🖤🎶🎵

[@burningchrome70]

Thanks for explaining this in a visual way along with audio. It helps tremendously.

[@Dingalsodong]

This movie come out over 10 years ago and people are explaining this this still to this day ;)

[@Dany-ly1kj]

20 yrs now

[@bobw1678]

If you have to spend 20 years explaining the movie, that's a pretty big red flag that its actually a shit movie.

[@RedGreyV]

@@bobw1678 If you have to spend 20 years trying to understand a movie, then perhaps you were not the intended audience.

[@georgezaharoff]

OMG I CANT BELIEVE YOU POSTED THIS!!! I watched this at an old cinema in Chicago back when you could only see films like this in one location. This is brilliant!

[@firstnamelastname77]

I’m only watching because this is my favorite movie. Great vid!

[@Snapes_pet]

I knew this was a odd confusing movie, but the depth of confusion was more than I could fathom thanks for explaining this

[@RamnaViaz]

One of the greatest movies about time travel ever.

[@junglistmanner404]

Great video! I have been waiting for something like this for years now

[@brgreg8725]

I became an even bigger Tears for Fears fan after this

[@miloman812]

There’s an entire website committed to answering this question. Loved reading it but wanted a different pov on it. Only major difference was it stated that Donnie did not have to die, he chose to.

[@davidl6332]

Nobody understands that this story is about an acid trip.. and when it finish Donnie laughs so hard, he goes to sleep while the other characters wake up from a nightmare

[@rabbitlolz]

Much respect for the ammount of time and probably the number of times you watch all the movies you do the videos of!! Would love an analysis of In The Shadow of the Moon, keep up the amazing work!

[@AndrewGhosting]

This movie gave me a recurring nightmare of being trapped in a black room with Donnie staring at me yelling "WHATS NEXT". I had the nightmare for months. I never understood why it scared the shit outta me. I eventually stopped having the dream. That was over 16 years ago. I watched this video just for the dream to come back when I napped...LMAO. Great movie though.

[@speakeroftheowls2394]

Damn that sucks

[@PavethaWay]

Why??

[@AndrewGhosting]

@@PavethaWay I have no idea. It just fucked with me.

[@seandafny]

That really sucks

[@mynameissal7205]

Ive been waiting for this! Thank you! Love the content

[@hunterhicks6726]

This movie had a huge impact on my life. Even got a tattoo of Frank on my right arm. The depth, complexity, and narrative of that movie is something that I’ve never seen anywhere else. It is my number 1 favorite movie.

[@KrisBryant99]

Donnie Darko for me is a metaphor for not grasping reality as it is and KNOWING that there's more than what meets the eye. Especially within us. The film is basically for the awkward outsider who knows too much but doesn't know how to grasp it.

[@lordshadow3822]

One of my all time favourite films (original version).

[@abafortunate5668]

You’re so smart and well read. Your content is the best

[@deepm4gt]

“donnie darko , the hell kind of name is that ? it’s like some sort of superhero or something.” “what makes you think i’m not ?”

[@ericphilen3433]

He most def pulled her with that line ha

[@justinflicop7198]

This will always be my #1 movie and I mean it I could watch it 1000s of times and I wouldn't get tired of it

[@JoshMc420]

Awesome, thank you. In my opinion this is the best explanation of the movie.

[@procarionte]

Finally, I've waited 10 years for this explanation.

[@markus8222]

Watched it again last night. Such a brilliant film with incredible acting

[@ericphilen3433]

I know The cast is superb

[@BrianWright-mi3lc]

The scene where Donnie leaves the movie theater, on the show list is The Last Temptation of Christ which is a huge clue. Donnie Darko, in essence, is an adaptation of the final scenes of The Last Temptation of Christ, which explores the question "what if Jesus didn't die on the cross?". Spot on though with your exposition of the philosophical implications regarding free will and determinism.

[@katashley1031]

I saw this so many times, and saw that on the marquee, but never thought about that plot overlap. You nailed it. Done.