Visible crew/equipment: When Donnie and his Dad are in the car, talking, prior to nearly hitting Grandma Death, in the window behind Donnie's Dad is the reflection of a vehicle which says "Darko" clearly on it. There's also the reflection of a clapperboard on the backseat. (00:21:00)
Donnie Darko (2001)
Ending / spoiler
Directed by: Richard Kelly
Starring: Drew Barrymore, Jake Gyllenhaal, Patrick Swayze, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mary McDonnell, Daveigh Chase, James Duval, Holmes Osborne
The world Donnie and those around him have been living in since the night the jet engine fell on his room is infact a 'tangent universe,' a parralel universe that branched of from the 'primary' universe when Donnie was saved from death by Frank. The 'end of the world' that Frank predicted is infact the date that the tangent universe will collapse, as it is very unstable and can only exist for around 28 days. On the final night before the universe collapses, Halloween, Donnie is compelled to go to Grandma deaths house with Gretchen, They are attacked by the bullies and Gretchen is eventually killed, hit by a car that swerves to avoid Grandma Death. Donnie, shocked, watches as the person driving the car gets out. It is Frank. He is a normal teenager, the disturbing bunnie suit nothing more than a sick holloween costume. Donnie takes out his handgun and shoots Frank is the eye, killing him. He takes Gretchen's body to the top of the hill where the film started and watches as the tangent universe begins to collapse. He sees a plane (that so happens to be carrying his mother and sister) lose a jet engine, and watches as it spirals towards what appears to be a wormhole. The universe collapses and we are sent back to where the film began, at the point where the tangent universe seperated form the primary universe. Donnie, laughing, willingly decides to stay in his bed and is killed by the jet engine as it falls and crushes him. In doing so, he has finally stopped the creation of the tangent universe, saving the lives of Gretchen, Frank and presumably his mother and sister. Donnie realised that his greatest fear of "dying alone" was his predetermined 'destiny' of sorts. The final scene is Gretchen, alive and before she met Donnie, watching from across the street as the authorities remove the jet engine from the Donnies room. She sees the Darko family, greiving over Donnies death and shares a wave of apparent recognition with Donnies mother, despite the fact that, in this universe, they have never met.
Jem
More mistakes in Donnie Darko
Dr. Lilian Thurman: Donnie, an atheist is someone who denies altogether the existence of God. You're an agnostic. An agnostic is someone who believes that there can be no proof of the existence of God, but does not deny the possibility that God exists.
Trivia: The time when the world is supposed to end is 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds. 28+6+42+12=88. The year the film takes place is 1988.
Question: In the part of the movie when the science teacher and Drew Barrymore are sitting in the staff room, what does their conversation mean? Science teacher says, "Donnie Darko." and Drew Barrymore says, "I know." What significant plot does this have?
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Answer: According to the audio commentary, "they're being manipulated and they are aware that something is going on with this kid and are laughing about it." Director's commentary is very interesting.
Nikki