Donnie Darko: Your views

Darko gets drawn in to a violent adventure

Donnie Darko tells a surreal tale of a teenage boy who has a bizarre correspondence with a man dressed up in a Halloween rabbit costume.

The film premiered at last year's Sundance film festival, the world's leading showcase for independent cinema.

"The product of first-time writer-director Richard Kelly's fertile imagination, Donnie Darko is one part 1980s Hollywood teen movie, one part sci-fi flick, a dollop of David Lynch and a twist of Catcher in the Rye," wrote BBC News Online's Matthew Slater.

But what do you think?

Will this be a cult classic? Or is it a little too off-the-wall?

After reading several reviews about this film I was keen to find out if it was really as good as the critics made out - only to find that despite being on general release, no cinema in the whole of Suffolk is showing it. Instead I have to put up with Halloween: Resurrection, and Crocodile Hunter.
Matt W, UK

Donnie Darko is an imaginative blend of Twelve Monkeys, The Twilight Zone, Twin Peaks and almost every 80s teen flick you've ever seen but it has an originality of its own. You cannot help but be moved by Donnie's predicament, and the ending leaves you feeling both sad and elated at the same time.
Dave, UK

It's OK. It's not the most tightly written film in the world, and as science fiction it's watered-down Philip K Dick, but it's amusing enough and Patrick Swayze is a genuine revelation.
Stu West, UK

A bit of a cult-miss. It is David Lynch lite for those who would be too weirded out by the real thing, with a mixture of Heathers/Election high-school black comedy.
John Klein, UK

Watched it on DVD six months ago, and I have to say it's probably one of the best films I've seen this year. You have to watch it more than once, if only to appreciate some of the things you passed off as incidental the first time round, but really add meaning the next..
Luc Pestille, UK

Bought the DVD on import - had second thoughts - what could be more ridiculous than a demonic rabbit giving someone visions of the future? But it is simply another great example of a small film making a big impression. We like Lord of the Rings, the Matrixes, the Bond movies, but you've got to give gems like this a chance - you WILL be impressed!
Jamie Walker, UK

Contrary to some of the comments made previously, this is not a film which is trying to prove how clever it is or to alienate i's audience. I found it a very personal and deeply involving piece which despite its flights into fanatasy and science fiction, remains believable and touching. Richard Kelly deserves enormous praise for his original script and direction. He is undoubtedly a talent to watch.
Daniel, London, UK

It reminds me of Usual Suspects because it's open to interpretation as to what really happened, and I still have no idea how to define it other than dark magical realism. It's scary that this is relegated to the arthouse circuit and Halloween:Resurrection is in the multiplexes Look for it, you won't be disappointed.
Kevin J Woods, Scotland

Surely the inspiration for this film came from James Stewart's heart-wrenching performance playing opposite an imaginary 6ft white rabbit in the film Harvey? One can't argue it's a completely original idea...
Sarah England

Donnie Darko will become a cult classic, but only because that's the way it's being marketed, appealing to audiences who want to prove that they're deep enough to enjoy Gladiator, Titanic, and something "different".

Of course it's just possible that I'd just bought in to the hype, but I couldn't help but be disappointed by it. The momentum of the plot seemed to continually falter, alienating me in the process. Twenty minutes in, I was thinking "Okay, maybe I do love this movie after all," then ten minutes later I was back to looking at my watch. Even worse, the continual sense that everyone was muttering "look at what a clever movie we're making, how deep" made it even less endearing.

Even so, it's worth a watch, thanks to Patrick Swayze's performance. He went up in my estimation no end. Oh, and if you think Tears for Fears always had something really important to say, you'll feel vindicated at the end of the movie. Otherwise, you'll more likely be cringing.
Laragh, Canada

In ten years it will be regarded as a genuine masterpiece! I remember vividly being one of only four people who bothered to see it in a theatre one afternoon - it was released with little or no fanfare - and immediately buying a ticket for the next showing. It's on video now and copies fly out the door every hour.
Robert del Valle, USA

I'd read the reviews, which were very favourable, so I bought the DVD (at least 6 months ago) and was not disappointed. A slow, clever intelligent and different film that was such a breath of fresh air from the rest of Hollywood's junk. I love it!
Iain Alexander, UK

This has been one of those rare movies that has kept me thinking about it for days after seeing it. Its openness to interpretation is what I think makes this film so good, for once a film that doesn't assume its audience needs to be hand held throughout it, nothing is what it seems and nothing can be taken for granted. Intense and moving it's not surreal for surrealism's sake but because it's the only way this story could be told. Brilliant.
Andy Bain, England

I loved it. very bizarre but a really fresh and interesting film at the same time. God forbid a jet engine ever falls through my bedroom ceiling.
Nicky Brown, N. Ireland

I saw Donnie Darko earlier this year. This is the first film from writer/director Richard Kelly, and in it he achieves a rare thing: a film where you can't predict what's going to happen. The ending is not the normal happy Hollywood type either. Confusing though the film is when first watched, it's still fascinating all the way through. Movies often arrive in pairs, where plot elements or style are similar enough that the movies are easily grouped together. I simply can't think of any other movie that this one resembles enough to be compared to. One of the best films I've seen in the last year.
Brian Milner, UK

This film a bit strange, that is until i looked at the website and realised how totally demented the plot actually is. Very good film and plenty of inspiration for halloween scary skull faced rabbit costumes.
Richard Hatch, UK

It has to be said this film takes a little work, but it is so worth it. High concept SF, beautiful cinematography and fantastic performances and script. I bought it on DVD a couple of weeks ago, which is good because its a film that benefits from a few watchings.

And I'm still seething that the director is probably younger than me and has come up with something as good as this.
Toby Jones, UK

It's magical. watch it. It'll change the way you think. Most of the pubilc will not understand it, and it does require repeated viewing for some. BUT...it's a truly special sci-fi/dark fanstasy.
James Lewis, Wales, UK

Saw this little gem at the Fantastic Film Festival a couple of months ago. It does have a confusing ending, but should be applauded for trying to do something a little bit different, whilst still managing to be entertaining at the same time.
Mark Renshaw, Manchester, UK

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