FILMMAKER MOVIE REACTION!! Donnie Darko (2001) FIRST TIME REACTION!!

Hope you enjoy my filmmaker reaction to Donnie Darko. :D
Full length reactions & Patreon only polls: / jamesvscinema
Original Movie: Donnie Darko (2001)
Ending Song: / charleycoin
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[@JamesVSCinema]

This movie was confuuuusing! Let me know your favorite moment in this movie! Want to vote on what I should watch next? Click here! www.patreon.com/jamesvscinema Get ready for UNDER THE SKIN movie reaction/commentary Wednesday! EVIL DEAD (1981) will be Thursday! :) Enjoy the day!

[@WellThatsUnexpected1]

Its confusing the first time. Would really recommend the director's cut if you ever want to watch it again as it clears up a lot of the confusing elements of the film.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Gotcha! Yeah I was advice to watch the theatrical cut first then maybe the directors!

[@nastynatti4313]

Please react to suspiria

[@rozwell5277]

Requiem for a Dream would be a great movie to react to, if you haven't already.

[@Shaggit]

@@JamesVSCinema Long story short, in 1988 a paradox occurred in the prime material world that threatened the entire Universe. So a Tangent Universe was created to solve the problem. Donnie Darko is the Living Receiver. He is basically gifted with supernatural powers to solve the paradox. This includes super strength (axe embedded in the bronze statue) and fire manipulation (how he set Cunninghams house on fire). To guide him on his quest to solve the problem was the Manipulated Dead (Frank the Demon Bunny and Gretchen, his girlfriend) and the Manipulated Living (science teacher, english teacher, Cunningham, Roberta Sparrow aka Grandma Death). The Tangent Universe is highly unstable and will only stay around for a month. Donnie Darko is influenced to do certain things that'd cause a domino effect to solve the paradox. The existence of the jet engines having a duplicate is a result of this instability and course correction. That's the long and short of it. Videos definitely explain it better and the Director's Cut actually lays out the chapters intercut with the movie causing a very different viewing experience. Roberta Sparrow is supposedly another former Living Receiver who solved a past problem and so wrote the book detailing her experiences. She is waiting for mail, I guess from a new Living Receiver, which Donnie Darko finally obliges. Great reaction James VS "What the Heck" Cinema! :-D

[@reginaldgickington4793]

So, basically, how the movie works: Donnie wakes up one night and leaves his house because a jet engine crashes into it. This jet engine is the Artifact. In this setting, sometimes the universe splits into a parallel timeline (Tangent Universe), which is unstable, and will collapse in roughly a month. Whenever this happens, someone close-by to the Artifact is selected to return it, stabilizing the timeline, and returning it to the main universe. Donnie Darko becomes the person selected to return the artifact. Now, once the timelines split, the universe does everything in its power to restore the timeline and aid Donnie's quest. Because of this, every single choice every person makes, consciously or subconsciously, serves to help Donnie in some way. Additionally, whenever someone dies in the alternate timeline, they gain the ability to travel throughout the entire timeline and help Donnie. Finally, Donnie gains powers (super strength, telekenesis, time-travel-vision, etc) to achieve his goals. On the last night of the parallel universe, Donnie shoots frank, who is wearing a halloween costume of a bunny. Frank immediately becomes a Manipulated Dead (one who can travel throughout the timeline to help Donnie), and tells him that the world will end. He then convinces Donnie to flood the school, leading to it being cancelled that day. Because it is cancelled, he walks home with Gretchen, who he starts a relationship with. Frank then has Donnie burn down Jim Cunningham's house to reveal his porn stash, which gets him arrested. With him being arrested, Donnie's parents leave home for Halloween. Donnie's relationship with Gretchen is then allowed to reach its peak during the Halloween party, at which point Donnie goes to visit Grandma Death. It is implied that Grandma Death was at one point selected to return an artifact in a different parallel timeline, which is why she knows so much about how the Tangent Universe. In doing so, Gretchen dies, giving Donnie sufficient motivation to return the artifact (the plane's jet engine) and reset the timeline. However, once the timeline is reset, nobody remembers anything. They have vague flashes, but it's more like a dream than a memory. As such, Donnie does not remember that the jet engine will strike his bedroom, and he is killed by it. In doing so, ultimately, he saves the universe.

[@ovalofsand]

What the heck

[@ashante190]

Thank you! It's been 10 years since I first saw this movie.

[@realscummy]

Where did you get this? The theory I always heard was it was a dream which is why all of the characters wake up at the end. It was all segments of a dream which included donny who dies. Your explanation is a lot more technical, so im assuming it comes from something specific

[@ashante190]

I always admired people who can break down movies like this and The Matrix philosophically piece by piece. So much theory to digest.

[@ashante190]

@realscummy It being all a dream doesn't compliment the conversations about time travel and non linear paths that is present in the film. It all being an imagination is a surface level analysis. More information can be found at www.donniedarko.org.uk/alternative-explantions/

[@Joelyne37]

Jake Gyllenhaal has said in interviews that he's still not even 100% sure what the movie's about haha

[@Afrohairlicious]

I feel less dumb lol This is the most disturbing movie I've ever seen. Not sure to have understood everything.

[@worryworm]

Donnie dies, or not. Schröder. I love it!

[@thedanantenna]

I'm so surprised there aren't more reactions to this, it's such a cult classic! thanks for doing it!

[@JamesVSCinema]

Happy to have done this one! Yeah I’ve never heard of this so I’m happy I was able to watch this with you guys!

[@theactualbajmahal833]

@@JamesVSCinema I like how you noticed the zoom-in on the grandfather clock. Yes, it's a retro shot, recalling mystery thrillers of Hitchcock's era. But it also recalls the zoom-in to the clockface in Rocky Horror Picture Show, just as the musical number "Time Warp" begins. Seconds later, the jet engine crashes through -- from another dimension... a time warp. Also, notice how Donnie begins the movie waking up in the middle of a canyon road -- he was sleepwalking (sleepbiking)? Then, that night, he again sleepwalks away from his bedroom just before the engine crashes through? Then, as the time in the loop is almost up, he drives himself and his dead girlfriend up to that same spot on the canyon road? This is because the time loop begins here and he's been through it all before, but now he's fully aware that he's the epicenter and he knows what's coming, because it has happened before. And because he is now aware, he can maybe change it. (BTW, if you haven't seen the movie, Groundhog Day, you should. It's like the comedic version of this.) Frank is what Sparrow called the "manipulated dead" He has to have died at least once before in a previous loop. If this looping continues, Donnie's girlfriend will likely be the manipulated dead in the next spin. Also, Frank is not just in a creepy bunny costume. Frank is dressed as a Pooka (google it... you won't be disappointed). Another thing to notice -- the double bill playing at the movie theatre: Evil Dead and The Last Temptation of Christ. This is a genuinely surreal double bill, but the thing they have in common is the illusion that one can escape fate. Another thing to notice -- Cherita and her earmuffs. She's having aural "hallucinations", possibly because she's affected by this looping phenomenon. Her dance is a meditation on the passage/nature of time... she loses to SparkleMotion, a children's sexualized distraction from the passage/nature of time. She has a crush on Donnie. And she's the only one smiling and peaceful when she wakes up after he's died. There are so many more details. Like how the science and lit. teachers (and maybe even his girlfriend) are actually supernatural helpers I think Sparrow called them the "manipulated living", while still being regular humans with their own lives on the real timeline... just like when the Agents "jump" into peoples "bodies" in The Matrix. I love this movie. Thank you for reacting to it. I don't know if your Halloween reactions list is filled, but there's another great horror movie I'd love to see you react to. It's called Pontypool. Thanks. Love ya'

[@LeshaAnn]

@@theactualbajmahal833 I just thought that "Evil Dead" & "Last Temptation of Christ" made for an arch, fun double bill 'cause they're both about zombies.

[@17thknight]

So, there's actually a whole book included in the DVD that explains everything, but that old woman (Roberta Sparrow) had experienced the same thing Donnnie did and her book that he read explained exactly what was happening, and they include that in the DVD. So when the engine from the plane in the future fell through time, it created a parallel universe, which is what we follow in the movie. The parallel universe is unstable. The longer it continues to exist, the closer it comes to collapse, which will destroy both universes. People who die in the parallel universe will be trapped (as Frank was). They will try to help (or trap) the person who can collapse the two universes together. Donnie is the center of it all. The only way for everything to be made right is for Donnie to die. Frank's ghost (who Donnie will eventually kill) is trapped in the parallel universe. He sets the trap that leads Donnie to the point where he must choose to die and fix the broken universe by getting Donnie's girlfriend killed (at Frank's own hands, no less). When the engine falls through time, Donnie goes back, and chooses to die, ending the paradox and stabilizing the universe, which is the only way his girlfriend will survive, thanks to Frank's trap. However in doing so, everything he did past that point essentially never happened. His girlfriend never knew him. Frank was never killed. The plane will never crash, etc. The last thing Roberta Sparrow wrote in her book is that, even after the two universes merge and are stabilized, people will still remember what happened in the alternate universe in their dreams. That's why everyone is waking up after Donnie dies. They all remember what happened. Which is why the sexual predator is crying. And why Frank reaches up and touches his eye. (PS: if you're curious about the water tubes coming out of people's chests, Roberta says that the person at the center of everything, as they gain more control over time, can see the paths people will take through time, so essentially he's seeing where people will go)

[@JamesVSCinema]

Gotcha! Yeah right after I finished the movie I went to an analysis video to learn more about it haha!

[@Shaggit]

I never got that Donnie had to die from the movie. It's suggested that Roberta Sparrow is a past incarnation of Donnie Darko and she didn't die. Maybe her problem was different than Donnie's that necessitated she survive to write the book. Perhaps. Love the movie cause despite the explanation a lot is up in the air to think about.

[@transformerdude4251]

@@Shaggit Donnie had to die and he had to willingly make that choice. It's presented fairly clearly.

[@jerm801]

Him dying has nothing to do with it. The reason the the collapse of the two universes is because there are two of the same artifacts (the plane engine) existing in the same space. Donnie's responsibility is to remove the intruding artifact through the worm hole before both universes collapse.

[@matthewjordan7297]

Donnie Darko is a film that definitely rewards repeat viewing. There's just so many different facets to this story, it's impossible to catch everything the first time. This is one of my favorite depictions of suburban America. I think the storylines involving the town, the teachers, the scenes with the PTA, etc., are all brilliant and eerily accurate. Donnie's actions throughout the film force the willful ignorance and hypocrisy of the town to rise to the surface, and it is amazing. I'm glad you enjoyed the film!

[@JamesFarrOfficial]

Saw this in 2001 when I was 21. Still one of my favorites. Every time I rewatch it I find something new. Once it clicks, it is truly mind blowing.

[@mclovin457]

Yes Jake and Maggie are brother and Sister. Maggie also plays Rachel in The Dark Knight

[@JamesVSCinema]

*mindblown*

[@NifferGal]

I’m thinking Heath Ledger played a role in leading to getting her the part in Batman. Him and Jake were really good friends. Personally, I thought she was horrible in Batman. Sorry to say I liked crazy Katie Holmes more, albeit they were both terrible.

[@richieclean]

@@NifferGal Maggie Gyllenhall's casting was the only misstep in The Dark Knight for me. I agree that Katie Holmes was the better Rachel. I don't agree that they were terrible though. 😀

[@mclovin457]

Jennaerys Targaryen You kidding? She was a major step-up from Katie

[@c4nniba1]

@@JamesVSCinema and the girl that played his little sister is the same girl from The Ring

[@tfpp1]

This movie came out in 2001, and if I remember correctly it was released either *just* before or *just* after 9/11. You can imagine why it got "lost in the shuffle" -- which is a shame, because this movie deserved more critical acclaim. Instead, because of the unfortunate timing of its release, it became a "cult classic" instead.

[@barbara832001]

It also had a really limited release, I know I didn't see it until it came out at Blockbuster. I know it was a much bigger hit in the UK.

[@barbara832001]

@David Fetherston It's 2001 according to the DVD copyright date.

[@barbara832001]

@David Fetherston According to Google it was initially released January 19th 2001. I think you might be remembering a different movie.

[@leilaniramos7328]

@@sethdoejersey well goddamn lol

[@theinvictussamaritan4778]

@@barbara832001 don’t trust everything you see, it was released October 26th, so not right after 9/11 but still close.

[@barbara832001]

This was such a formative movie for me. It came out as I was graduating high school and starting college. It's one of those movies I will watch any time. It just hit me at the right time.

[@nonanaqueenXD]

Yes!! there are a few movies that always, no matter how many times I rewatch them, make me absurdly emotional and for some reason Donnie Darko is one of them. the combination of the dreary color grading, the excellent script, the sheer loneliness this movie projects always gets to me. I'm also a bonafide Jake Gyllanhaal fan so that really helps too I think haha!

[@17thknight]

The scene of everyone waking up and Frank reaching up to touch his eye always gets me.

[@nonanaqueenXD]

also: yes, Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal are real life siblings! Maggie is also a pretty great actress, if you've seen Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy she appears in The Dark Knight

[@JamesVSCinema]

I think movies like this reminds me alittle of Taxi Driver and Joker because of how well they play the “outsider” and tell the psychological mind of theirs. Not sure if there’s any correlation but I just got a feeling!

[@FiddlersGreen667]

Don't forget the surreal ending sequence and the Mad World music cover. That song always gets to me.

[@mokane86]

@@FiddlersGreen667 Yes I came to add that the soundtrack is excellent and fits the movie perfectly.

[@Eprosis]

Donnie Darko is the classic 'lightning in a bottle' type of creation. It's unique, beautiful, terrifying, odd, heartbreaking and for a lot of the film you're not entirely sure why, you just feel it. Not for everyone but when it 'clicks' for someone it's fantastic. And the poor writer/director of the film never came close to repeating its success. It's in my top ten, for sure.

[@barbara832001]

Yeah, Southland Tales was pretty bad.

[@yeaaahbuddy1991]

I love this movie. I've seen it so many times. But you hit it out of the park with the color scheme making it look "glossy" like it was a dream. I never noticed that before, thank you!!

[@JamesVSCinema]

Yup! That scene reminded me of the colors in Mulholland Drive!

[@BrokenGodEnt]

This movie is 1 of 42 movies I've ever given a 5 star rating on LetterBoxd. Seriously one of my favorites of all time and I don't even know why I love it so much tbh lol.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Honestly the music in this was so damn good! Especially in the movie theater!

[@mclovin457]

BrokenGod Ent. Whats your Letterboxd. Gotta follow you

[@mclovin457]

LETMEIN FRED What your Letterboxd

[@stanley2681]

its the soundtrack man! lol

[@cestaimee]

The soundtrack is one of the BEST.

[@mirata9]

Yessss man you’re doing Under the Skin! Can’t wait for that. Did you know - a lot of the people in that movie are not actors, and did not know they were being filmed until later when they signed their permission.

[@JamesVSCinema]

I had no idea about that haha!!

[@setadrft]

That movie is wild

[@VAVORiAL]

Under The Skin is fantastic. And that soundtrack tho!

[@johnnyjohnny6174]

Oh shit, Under the Skin is great

[@FlingGibstopper]

@@JamesVSCinema Super pumped for this actually, Under the Skin inspired me artistically when I first saw it. Very good film.

[@alext9215]

My explanation: Donnie has to die to save the world. So the "universe" is doing everything possible to manipulate Donnie to stay in his room when the engine hits the house.

[@bothefallen]

Exactly, but the universe isn't just manipulating Donnie, it has given him all of it's power to be able to save it.

[@EvilDeadCabbage]

He doesn't have to die, Roberta Sparrow was in the same situation as Donnie and survived

[@suicidechrist5437]

I think donnie is like jesus. He had to die to save everyone. This movie has a big influence from religion. Best movie

[@mokane86]

Yes ok, but why did he not die in the first place? Only because alternate timeline Frank came and talked him into leaving his room... So I still don't understand why he would do that and create the loop? To give Donnie that chance to experience those alternative things and be 'self actualized' in his decision? To reveal all those secrets and things to the other people in their dream memory?

[@ibisrider2379]

@@suicidechrist5437 Thus the title on the cinema sign - The Last Temptation of Christ. Frank plays the role of the devil offering Donnie everything he ever wanted. Donnie realized that in order to make everyone's life better that he needed to sacrifice himself and die.

[@ericellerbrock9350]

Continue the Jake Gyllenhaal train with nightcrawler my dude.

[@HarleySB]

Yes! Nightcrawler is a mindmelter, too. Such a unique story. Jake's eccentricity has always made movies more passionate. I love Brokeback, too, just can't rewatch it. The ending destroys me.

[@astragalusson]

"Mad World" by Micheal Andrews and Gary Jules, the song that played at the end of the movie, became very popular with the movie. At least, in my environment... I guess it's partially because it fits really well with the themes, atmosphere and late emotions of the movie.

[@momo7989]

Mad world in movie was a remake. The original was from the 80s by tears for fears

[@charliedawson6318]

The cover was actually done specifically for the movie.

[@momo7989]

@@charliedawson6318 yes I know..but there's a lot of ppl who still think it's an original. I just wanted to point this out

[@JP-1990]

Donnie Darko is easily one of the biggest moods in the history of cinema.

[@j-dog8517]

If you watch donnie darko and requiem for a dream as a teenager youll never do drugs again 😂

[@geneterror]

You can probably add Trainspotting to that list.

[@j-dog8517]

@@geneterror true true

[@licifuz]

lol so true

[@meganclouse7423]

But Donnie Darko is more about his schizophrenia not drugs

[@Cyborganna]

This Film signalled the beginning of the still prevalent 80"s nostalgia wave in Cinema, which became cemented by Drive, that I give a small credit to it for helping give rise to the astounding current Synthwave music scene... Donnie Darko has a very special place in my heart. Thank you for reacting to this! 💖💖💖💖💖

[@zachariahodell580]

Cannot wait for your reaction of "The Evil Dead". Really hope you end up watching "Evil Dead II" and "Army of Darkness" as well as they are also masterpieces!

[@ilooksad]

at the end, he’s laughing at his conversation with Gretchen: "Donnie Darko? what the hell kind of name is that? it’s like some sort of superhero or something." “what makes you think i’m not?” he saved the universe and was a superhero.

[@dystopiabeach]

I really love the design and voice for Frank . between that, Gyllenhaal's performance, and the more hazy, dreamlike scenes this is still one of my favorites. such an engaging film even on a rewatch.

[@pazer97]

Damn, imagine him reacting to Mulholland Drive, what the heck 😂😂😂

[@jsmarty1]

Donnie Darko: *something happens* James: what the heck Tbf, that’s a very appropriate reaction, Donnie Darko is weird

[@angellopez3202]

The way you felt about this movie at the end being confused is exactly how I felt the first time I saw this LOL, took multiple watches over the years but it was enjoyable each time. Donnie Darko is such a cult classic!

[@JamesVSCinema]

Hahaha happy that I wasn’t the only one lost in the sauce with this one haha!

[@guen4413]

I know somebody has already recommended Requiem for a Dream, but I’m really hoping you’ll do that one!

[@The-Xclusiveeeee]

Amazing movie! depressing AF tho! and the acting is amazing as well!

[@guen4413]

AngelOfDarkness it’s one of those movies that you can’t stop thinking about for like a week after

[@The-Xclusiveeeee]

@@guen4413 You're absolutely right about that, i still do!

[@hanksilman4016]

Maybe preemptively plan a comedy for the movie after that one :P

[@j-dog8517]

Yeaa i recommended itt lol. Id love to see his reactions 😂

[@corporealghoul]

When you asked us to share our thoughts when we first saw this... first off you are nailing a lot of the basics so far. The weird watering things coming from everyone's chests was Donnie seeing their "future". Not just their path. He was seeing into the future. This movie tripped me out when I saw it. I watched it with my best friend and his older cousin. RIP Erwin. He was a kick ass dude. He showed us this movie and explained a ton of it to us. Fuck I miss that guy.

[@BMetcalf82]

One of best initial directorial masterpieces in the world.

[@AJ-ut8cz]

Some parents deserve respect, most of them don't PERIOD. - George Carlin

[@magusmelanie828]

One of those films that reward you by digging deeper on the story - your commentary on this one and the cinematography was amazing

[@shwicaz]

The therapist is played by Katherine Ross who starred in 'The Stepford Wives' (she's also married to actor Sam Elliott)

[@DennisTrovato]

Gotta do "The Crow" at some point now.

[@stanley2681]

before there was the show DARK which youve gone through, there was this movie....i love both and the complexity of donnie darko is still there to unravel. ive seen it when it first came out and still watch it and discover new things ...would love to see your take on it when you give it time to digest

[@MichaelJKospiah]

Makes me wanna rec David Lynch - "Blue Velvet" is probably his least confusing movie (outside of "Straight Story" and maybe "Dune").

[@joshuafletcher4501]

Great film! Elephant Man is also pretty straight forward, very humanitarian/beautiful as well.

[@Therealfakemaxgoldberg]

Mikey Writes Movies a Blue Velvet reaction would be so awesome, but yes any lynch!

[@joshuafletcher4501]

Max Goldberg he’s done Mulholland Drive already! I bugged the fucking hell out of him until he did hahaha.

[@Therealfakemaxgoldberg]

Joshua Fletcher no way, I just discovered his channel. Okay, I’m about to be real busy

[@MichaelJKospiah]

@@joshuafletcher4501 Oh yeah, forgot about Elephant Man.

[@zenhaelcero8481]

Richard Kelly is one hell of a filmmaker. I'd recommend checking out another of his projects, "Southland Tales" from the mid 2000's. Moby saw this movie (Darko) and was so impressed that he agreed to do the soundtrack for Southland Tales, whereas normally Moby didn't like to do soundtrack work.

[@jekkabean]

Halfway through this and already loving it. There's a website full of puzzles and secrets you can go through, bits of info scattered from the director. Definitely a movie that needs multiple viewings. I could talk about it for hours. Love, love, love it.

[@choomah]

Im a huge 4-6th Dimension time travel therory fan, so I LOVE this film! when he can see people's time-lines snakeing out of people, I used to theorise on if Donnie followed his own out of curiosity, or because he has no free will and it pre-determined, since he is seeing his own literal time-line... But since he became aware would it be possible for him to alter his path and would his time-line alter and change to adjust... the no free will thing always freak me out when it comes to the 4th dimension ˙_˙ hahaha

[@JamesVSCinema]

Yeah this is your cup of tea Jordan hahaha! I needed you here!

[@gtay6726]

One of my favourite movies of all time. So glad someone I actually follow finally reacted to this movie. Fantastic script, cast and acting. I just picked up a t shirt with Frank on it, that just says "Wake Up". I still hope you watch Equilibrium, with Bale and Tay Diggs. You won't be disappointed.

[@matthewscott3689]

Basically, Donnie Dark is a kind of super hero, when the engine crashes into his room it creates a separate timeline, his powers allow him to see how everything will play out in the timeline he survives in. After seeing how everything ends up, he realizes the timeline where he does not survive is actually the one where less people are hurt. So, he chooses to die in the crash, thus allowing the other timeline to become reality. He sacrifices himself, in true super hero fashion, to save everyone else.

[@thetoothbrushfromnisemonog8340]

Great video, this is easily one of my favorite movies! I watched this like 10 years ago when I was like 8 or 9 and it was still on Netflix, it freaked me the hell out but I couldn’t get it out of my mind, Ive watched it so many times and I still absolutely love it.

[@Trowa71]

I think this might be one of the first movies to truly fascinate me. I remember my older sister saying you have to watch it a few times to get it and that just blew my small child mind.

[@handsomestik]

this movie still sticks with me , this and Mothman Prophecies. I saw Mothman way back then on tv and the next day the Minneapolis bridge collapse happened back in 2005 I think.

[@flyingardilla143]

I quit the company that did the inspections on that bridge a couple months before it fell. It was a weird coincidence of a different sort for me.

[@andrewhirschi1026]

a movie that everytime i watch it i find something new or i understand a different aspect of the story and that's why i love the storytelling in this so much

[@cristonsloan]

Great as always, thank you man.This movie is deliberately bewildering and confusion reigns for almost everyone who watches it, even on multiple viewings, so you were by NO means alone. CANNOT wait for you to see Evil Dead. I am desperately hoping that you enjoy it enough to do the entire original trilogy - even though the tone changes drastically from movie to movie, Sam's film-making and story-telling is breath-taking for the entire journey. And if you get into the movies and decide to do the TV series after that.... well, then it's just Christmas all round, every upload! 😁

[@JamesVSCinema]

Hahahaha I’ve heard awesome things about Evil Dead. I’ve only saw the newest one but never the classics!

[@cristonsloan]

@@JamesVSCinema Then you're in for a treat my friend. Thursday can't come soon enough for me! :-) Oh and, as a film-maker yourself, I no doubt don't need to add this, but for the benefit of anyone else reading who does not know - bear in mind that the first original movie was made 40 years ago on an absolute shoe-string budget and with a virtually amateur cast and crew (although the SFX guys obviously went on to have illustrious careers afterwards due to their raw, visceral talent), which just makes what was put to film that much more mind-bogglingly creative and impressive.

[@joshuanix736]

My apologies if this has been said or you've seen an analysis that breaks it down but the story can essentially be interpreted 3 ways: 1.) The surface, sci/fi, time-travel version in which Donnie is basically a teen superhero who saves all of existence by sacrificing himself (his gf even suggests this and he encourages the idea, and you pointed out that they kept oddly calling him by his first and last name). 2.) The religious allegory version in which Donnie is basically Jesus (Last Temptation of Christ is a strange choice to pair with Evil Dead and Donnie refers to "God's channel"). 3.) Donnie is actually experiencing a psychological break and this is mostly a series of vivid hallucinations/delusions of grandeur. After 19 years, I've concluded that it's all 3. I saw a fresh 35mm print of this in October of 2001 at the Belcourt independent cinema in Nashville and it changed me forever. Made me want to quit because I'd never make anything as good. And I agree that the theatrical cut is the superior version.

[@dudor89]

Love the channel! Thanks for reviewing my fave movie. If I remember correctly this had a short theater run and did poorly due to it being released around 9/11, plane crash scene didn’t mesh well. Chris stuckman has a good review of it on KZbin and there’s lot of explanations of the wormhole and time travel stuff. It’s very rewatchable .

[@Dinkdownn]

The first time I saw this I was confused and completely in love. I’ve seen it many many times since then and it’s better every time 🔥🔥

[@billih8sclowns]

Forgotten how good this movie is, love your reaction video to it. I think the sound and images in this film are something else, otherworldly and surreal.

[@traceyreid4585]

'Whomst The Heck!' I laughed out loud when you said that! Great movie commentary for this mind blower of a film

[@joshuaduke5582]

Ive always thought that a benevolent God used Donnie's mental "illness" to show him why he had to die, and in the end Donnie was ok with it even though his greatest fear was to die alone. I wonder if Roberta Sparrow chose differently and that is why she lives the life she does now?

[@blubandit3163]

One of my fav movies after it took me several times to watch. And the soundtrack just does it’s justice even more

[@annalisamoretti271]

I almost have this movie memorized I watched it so many times when I was in college XD There used to be a website that was made by the filmmakers which gave more info, but it was like a puzzle to access it. I was obsessed

[@psychonaut00011]

Now your ready to hit the Lynch collection.

[@chogunrua]

you react to so many of my favorite movies. i like rewatching them a lot but your reactions are super fun as a substitute for that.

[@amcburger]

This is a movie where every time you rewatch it you will catch something new. Everything is done for a reason and put in place for a reason. One of my favorite movies of all time.

[@jackbrooks5487]

As has already been said, the Director's Cut answers a lot of What the Hell Just Happened moments. The director's commentary (Richard Kelly and buddy, Kevin Smith) also clears up many questions. There is a sequel, S. Darko, but not by the same director, that involves Samantha (same actress) in a situation much like brother Donnie's. It doesn't live up to the original. Oh, yes, Jake and Maggie are real life brother and sister. She is also in Cecil B. Demented, a John Waters well worth a look, and The Dark Knight among others. Kelly has only directed two films since Darko, Southland Tales, starring Dwayne Johnson, and The Box, with Cameron Diaz.

[@BADDEC101]

the 1st time I saw this movie I was young and dumb and on a head full of mushrooms. This movie blew my mind. Sobered up and watched it again and was like, nope, i did NOT hallucinate this...I love this movie.

[@memz8952]

i loved the way you really payed attention and tried solving it on your own

[@Mooky1997]

I love this movie so much, I can’t count how many times I’ve watched it. I love movies that are open to interpretation. So many layers and so beautiful

[@zbennalley]

Watch the director's cut with the commentary it has the writer/director Richard Kelly and Kevin Smith. It's one of the funniest and surprisingly entertaining commentaries I've listened to.

[@goranorescanin2775]

Man i practically BEGGED you to do this when your channel started cuz it's my favorite movie, so happy to see this pop up!!!

[@Ruperillo]

Yo James, if you liked Donnie Darko or like "confusing" movies in general, go watch Mullholland Drive. That one left me confused as hell XD

[@Teaniinja]

Nobody confuses like Lynch lol

[@BangBangspideyproduc]

Glad you reacted to this, it’s one of my favorite movies ever, Jake was amazing as always. The Directors cut also does answer some time travel questions that the original cut doesn’t, makes it a bit easier to understand.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Jake is too damn good!

[@BangBangspideyproduc]

James VS Cinema he really is, one of the best working actors of this generation

[@SilentBob731]

Oh, I've been waiting to see someone do this masterpiece (I just got into watching reaction videos a couple months ago so I'm going through a few channels rewatching all the things I love with entertaining commentators, hence the massive time-delay).

[@dannyc5688]

My sister had this movie on DVD and said it was boring so she gave me it, I have watched it countless times. Im thankful for my sisters terrible taste in movies. One of my favorite films!

[@dlweiss]

I think "what on earth, man - this is so strange" pretty much sums up most people's thoughts the first time they watch this movie. So you're definitely not alone. :)

[@idontknowleavemealoneplease]

When he found the gun just about all of us were worried about what was being built up to. Glad it didnt take it where we thought it was going.

[@chrisfoeks5752]

He knew he was going to die but he had to sacrifice himself to save her even though knowing she would never know who he is he really loved it

[@blackwolf1216]

Love this film, BTW he basically went back in time and stayed in his bed when the engine hit to alter the future and save everyone

[@JamesVSCinema]

Yup I caught that just at the end of the movie lol

[@maggieellis2303]

I ❤️ running into movie reactions you did of my favorites back in the day. This one remains in my top 10! You were younger and so was I. What a trip. I’m just now starting to watch this reaction, but my guess is that you’ll at least appreciate it and maybe even love it. Great minds, amirite?

[@AustinDpOwers89]

Sinister is an under rated modern horror film

[@griffinhardy3911]

I literally watched this for the first time 2 nights ago. Instantly become one of my all time favorite movies I rewatched the next day. Terrific movie

[@cuba8188]

I've seen this movie 100 times and I love it! Every time I watch it I get something else out of it! It's so different! I love the soundtrack and camera angles! It feels like it was shot in the 80s

[@fkaiba94]

Then write a 100 different things you got from it

[@cuba8188]

@@fkaiba94 sure just play in traffic until I finish my list

[@fkaiba94]

@@cuba8188 expose these liars and they get mad

[@kevbotroberts]

Please consider checking out Eraserhead!! ;-)

[@nothisispatrick7163]

omfg YES!!!

[@charlieinslidell]

Time travel, reversing past events to make future events better for everyone else but Donnie Darko himself.

[@Shawaeon]

If you want to watch an even more confusing movie watch Primer.

[@17thknight]

You monster. Trying to unravel that movie has a 50% chance of killing someone.

[@Shawaeon]

@@17thknight Even after watching several explanation videos and timeline pictures I still don't fully understand what happens in that movie.

[@someford5679]

That's a good confusing movie.

[@djlittell4090]

Or the director's next movie "Upstream Color". I've given up on it.

[@AbsoluteApril]

such a slow boring start, I couldn't get into Primer. Does it get any better after the 1st half? I assume so since so many people seem to like it...

[@TheeDonMega1976]

Bro, Donnie Darko ....haven't seen this in so long. Classic.

[@narauusihanni8715]

I love this movie. I first saw it randomly when I was like 15. My friend's family used to burn tons of random movies on DVDs and I borrowed it equally randomly. I was immediately obsessed with this movie. I remember the official website was very intriguingly designed and had hidden random bits of info about time travel and such. You can still access it via Wayback Machine. I've never understood how this movie confuses people, though, or worse how some people think it's just nonsense. It's hard to say this without sounding like an asshat, but to me it seems like such a straight forward story and makes perfect sense!

[@SgtPeppers2001]

Exactly how I felt the first time I saw it. And kind of how I still react to watching it now. I don't fully understand it all, but I love it.

[@danielfrancis3736]

I remember the first time I watched this movie. It was at a friends house. I was struck by it, mesmerized by it, terrified by it, consumed with it. I remember walking back home in the dark at midnight, tears in my eyes, truly haunted. I was 17 or 18 at the time.

[@The-Xclusiveeeee]

This is my 2nd all time favorite movie, one of the most unique movie experiences i had, there is simply nothing like it....Movie is AWESOME!!

[@MikeB12800]

Google “The Philosophy of Time Travel” it explains everything.

[@MrWhit-mp2vn]

If you like confusing movies, watch Primer. One critic said, "anybody who claims he fully understands what's going on in Primer after seeing it just once is either a savant or a liar" Despite being confusing, it is a good movie.

[@RSVS42]

One of the main outstanding points about this film was its marketing campaign in order to achieve a global release. They did extensive screenings at Universities and leveraged it to gain a wider and wider release. It's more a testament to the film's marketing strategy and Drew Barrymore's producer skills from a filmmaker's perspective.

[@TOKYOTOYBANZAI]

Great movie. I saw it first (mostly) after walking into a friend's dorm room. He and his room mates were watching it when it was first released on DVD, and it immediately caught my attention. I borrowed it the next day so that I could watch it all the way through on my own. Instantly became one of my favs. So much to absorb. There is also a director's cut that answers some more questions, but I prefer the ambiguity of the original theatrical cut (the version you watched). Such an interesting movie with loads of atmosphere, great camera work, acting, and music, along with intriguing ideas. The writer/director, Richard Kelly actually wrote an entire time travel philosophy to go along with the film, it'd definitely worth looking into to understand the film more.

[@relykremark6129]

When I first watched this based off a recommendation from a friend, I HAD to watch an explanation video after, but it definitely made things clearer to me.

[@mr.jeeber2420]

I showed this years ago to my dad the first quarter of the movie he was like "this doesnt make any damn sense" to "holy shit this is great" .

[@mostresticator3000]

check out a flick called Dead Mans Shoes, directed by Shane Meadows. Its kind of a b movie, done in England....one of the best revenge flicks ive ever seen and noones reacted to it yet

[@Timkunchan]

I remember seeing this movie at a friend's house when I was really young, it's such a strange one...I love the comments you make about how the colours are all glossy and almost dream-like during the scene with the plane crashed into Donnie's house. I never really understood this movie, it's absolutely one of those you should seek an explained video about, but still a fun video. Good work James, can't wait to see you react to the Evil Dead!

[@patrickfoster8335]

Donnie Darko requires multiple viewings to fully understand. Its awesome.

[@rebeccahopkins9522]

If the Theory Of Relativity made a film, this would be it. 😂 love this existentially brilliant film so much.

[@theretrosavage]

I've never had a film that stayed with me more then this one

[@smittmasterflex]

This movie is amazing. I don't know why I connect so much with it. The visuals, the acting and the score. This score makes my heart ache.

[@brittanythole8238]

The bunny that haunted my dreams for much of my teen years lol. Love this movie, it's such a ride.

[@JamesVSCinema]

It seemed to have haunted many others as well judging by the comments haha

[@UFT90]

I think 'Threads' is something you should check out for sure. It's an early 80s nuclear war film that is still one of the most harrowing movies I've ever seen.

[@nirmallyaghosh1373]

Oh buoy another Classic ❤ . October sky reaction also please please....such an inspiring movie that one is !!

[@JamesVSCinema]

I’ll add that to future polls!!

[@voiceover2191]

This was Richard Kelly's debut and best effort. I saw it in a film festival where it was my opening movie and it blew me away. I also love his movie The Box, a remake of an old Twilight Zone episode, equally mysterious and great. Unfortunately he hasn't made anything decent since, shame, but we have this one, great movie and yes, they are brother and sister Jake and Maggie with equally brilliant careers and talent.

[@gronkmusic7973]

Take a shot every time James says "what the heck" during this reaction 👍