Donnie DarkoDonnie Darko

Donnie DarkoDonnie Darko: Allusions: Allusions Harvey Harvey – a film starring – a film starring

Jimmy Stewart about a Jimmy Stewart about a man, Elwood Dowd, man, Elwood Dowd, whose pal is a 6 foot whose pal is a 6 foot rabbitrabbit

Elwood is viewed as Elwood is viewed as crazy yet he brings joy crazy yet he brings joy to all; he may be to all; he may be insane, but the world is insane, but the world is limitedlimited

He He isis crazy but in crazy but in “movie logic” that’s “movie logic” that’s better than being better than being NormalNormal

Other Allusions, film & litOther Allusions, film & lit

It’s a Wonderful It’s a Wonderful Life:Life: hero learns hero learns life is better off life is better off with (than without) with (than without) himhim

Lit: Alice in Lit: Alice in Wonderland; Wonderland; Catcher in the Rye; Catcher in the Rye; Hamlet; BartlebyHamlet; Bartleby

Christ figure/ Christ figure/ savior/Chosen Onesavior/Chosen One

Darko: Genre (Type) Darko: Genre (Type) Film draws from a # of Film draws from a # of

genres (types) of film, genres (types) of film, making it more making it more interesting/complexinteresting/complex

Genre refers to a Genre refers to a kindkind of of film – western, romance, film – western, romance, noir, sci fi – that audiences noir, sci fi – that audiences expect certain things from expect certain things from (characters, plot moves)(characters, plot moves)

Films difficult to identify by Films difficult to identify by genre are often bestgenre are often best

Or, directors can alter Or, directors can alter generic forms: Million generic forms: Million Dollar Baby alters the Dollar Baby alters the “Rocky” formula“Rocky” formula

Teen Rebel GenreTeen Rebel Genre Popular genre with Popular genre with

these elements –these elements – Teen or teen hero who Teen or teen hero who

“gets the Truth”“gets the Truth” Parents/teachers who Parents/teachers who

are dull & are dull & “Establishment” “Establishment”

Rebellion (even Rebellion (even violence) seen as violence) seen as restorativerestorative

Music usually “tells” us Music usually “tells” us how to feel, who to likehow to feel, who to like

If this is the suburbs we If this is the suburbs we must be in Banality-villemust be in Banality-ville

Like so many films (and Like so many films (and some books) modern some books) modern suburbia is the metaphor suburbia is the metaphor for dullness, for dullness, soullessness, vapiditysoullessness, vapidity

American Beauty, The Ice American Beauty, The Ice Storm, Blue Velvet, Ferris Storm, Blue Velvet, Ferris B., tv’s Desp. HousewivesB., tv’s Desp. Housewives

Crack the surface: pain, Crack the surface: pain, loneliness, perversion, loneliness, perversion, secrets…secrets…

Some escape; some Some escape; some thrive; others surrender…thrive; others surrender…

Sci Fi GenreSci Fi Genre Use of f/xUse of f/x Often deal with Often deal with

divisions divisions human/inhuman; human/inhuman; self-determination self-determination vs. fate (or vs. fate (or machine); machine); sane/insanesane/insane

Otherworldly setting Otherworldly setting (though comment (though comment on our world)on our world)

Romantic (dark) comedyRomantic (dark) comedy Love is thwarted by Love is thwarted by

some Force, but some Force, but triumphant triumphant

Hero/heroine believe Hero/heroine believe in true emotions; in true emotions; audience wants audience wants them togetherthem together

Dark comedies Dark comedies disallow normal disallow normal progress of romanceprogress of romance

Avenging Angel/Superhero Avenging Angel/Superhero GenreGenre

Hero uses violence to Hero uses violence to rid world of evil and/or rid world of evil and/or to allow good to to allow good to triumphtriumph

Hero is often dark, Hero is often dark, troubled himselftroubled himself

(Think Batman, Spider (Think Batman, Spider Man…etc.)Man…etc.)

Also “vigilante” films in Also “vigilante” films in which some Angry which some Angry Everyman takes justice Everyman takes justice in his own hands b/c in his own hands b/c “establishment” fails“establishment” fails

Some key lines that point toward themes:Some key lines that point toward themes:

1. When Donnie asks his mom what it feels like 1. When Donnie asks his mom what it feels like to have a crazy son, she says, “Wonderful.”to have a crazy son, she says, “Wonderful.”

2. Donnie gets defensive when Gretchen says 2. Donnie gets defensive when Gretchen says he’s weird, and she reassures, “That’s a he’s weird, and she reassures, “That’s a

compliment”compliment”3. When Donnie asks Frank-the-bunny why he 3. When Donnie asks Frank-the-bunny why he

wears that ridiculous rabbit suit, Frank wears that ridiculous rabbit suit, Frank responds, “Why are you wearing that stupid responds, “Why are you wearing that stupid

Man suit?”Man suit?”4. “We all die alone.” 4. “We all die alone.”

Some questions…Some questions…

Is the world better off with or without Donnie?Is the world better off with or without Donnie?

Why the backdrop of the Bush/Republican years Why the backdrop of the Bush/Republican years (Bush, Sr.)?(Bush, Sr.)?

What purpose does Cherita serve?What purpose does Cherita serve?

What is the chained mastiff symbolizing?What is the chained mastiff symbolizing?

What does “cellar door” mean?What does “cellar door” mean?