“Wake Up”

Don’t feel bad if you didn’t understand Donnie Darko at all. First, the theatrical release offers less insight into the movie than the Director’s Cut. So, you may not know that there’s an entire mythos behind the film, making it take a while to see the whole picture. Here is the comprehensive Donnie Darko breakdown you’ve always wanted. Expect spoilers.  

“Do you believe in time travel?”

The most poignant thing to know about Donnie Darko is that it is a movie about time travel, multiverses, irony, death, God, and fate.

As we go deeper into this journey, it is vital to remember that everything is pre-designed in the Donnie Darko universe. Remembering this will help to avoid falling down any rabbit holes of potential paradoxes.

Furthermore, during Donnie Darko: The Director’s Cut, pages from a book that Donnie is reading appear on the screen briefly at various times. These pages are integral to grasping the story and will be referenced throughout. 

Donnie Darko Explained

Simple Donnie Darko Breakdown

Before fully diving into this Donnie Darko breakdown, let’s have a quick refresher. 

Donnie Darko, a troubled teen, is awakened one night by a strange voice telling him to “wake up.” He follows the voice until he meets its owner, a six-foot-tall rabbit named Frank.

Frank tells Donnie that the world will end in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds.

Donnie returns home the following day to find a jet engine had fallen on his bedroom while he was gone. 

The film follows Donnie, who sees continuous apparitions of this rabbit as strange coincidences begin happening back-to-back. Meanwhile, Frank – whom we find out is a guy with an injured eye wearing a rabbit suit – encourages Donnie to do things like flood the school and burn a house down. 

All this culminates in Donnie Darko’s girlfriend, Gretchen, being accidentally run over by a car. Donnie immediately shoots and kills the driver.

The film ends with the events of the movie rewinding in time and Donnie Darko laughing hysterically in his bedroom as the jet engine from the beginning of the movie falls on him, killing him. Then, it shows everyone else waking up as if they’d just had a dream. Roll credits.

I’ll give you a moment to unpack that. I can see why this movie confused many people who saw it. Now, let’s dive into what was going on in Donnie Darko.

Into the Multiverse

From the moment the jet engine falls on his room at the beginning of the movie until we see the jet engine again at the end, the events we see play out are happening in what’s known as a Tangent Universe.

In the movie, Donnie Darko’s science teacher gives Donnie a book that would explain everything: “The Philosophy of Time Travel” by Roberta Sparrow.

Roberta Sparrow’s book explains Tangent Universes by saying:

“Incidents when the fabric of the fourth dimension becomes corrupted are incredibly rare.

If a Tangent Universe occurs, it will be highly unstable, sustaining life for no longer than several weeks. Eventually, it will collapse upon itself, forming a black hole within the Primary Universe, capable of destroying all existence.”

An alternate timeline has occurred; they are inside it and only have a small window before it “collapses upon itself.” This eventuality is where Frank the Rabbit’s famous 28 days, etc., countdown comes from. Are you with me so far? 

Good, because it’s time to talk about that jet engine.

The Significance of the Jet Engine in Donnie Darko

According to “The Philosophy of Time Travel,” an artifact is the evidence that a Tangent Universe has occurred. 

In this case, the Artifact is the mysterious jet engine that fell on Donnie Darko’s room. I could go into more detail about how these objects are typically made of metal, generate a lot of human interest around them, are an act of God, etc., but let’s keep it simple.

The key to ending a Tangent Universe is to return the Artifact from the Tangent Universe to the Primary one.

You may wonder how anyone could do that, so I introduce you to Donnie Darko’s role.

Why Donnie Darko was Important

During their first real conversation, his girlfriend Gretchen Ross remarks, “Donnie Darko? What the hell kind of name is that? It’s like some sort of superhero or something.”

This line gives us a small dose of irony because Donnie Darko has been set up to be a literal superhero. In this movie, Donnie Darko is known as The Living Receiver. 

“The Living Receiver is chosen to guide the Artifact into position for its journey back to the Primary Universe. No one knows how or why a Receiver will be chosen.” -Roberta Sparrow.

Please stay with me here. Donnie Darko is a part of this by design, all with the intention of him being the one to deliver the Artifact to the Primary Universe. 

According to Roberta Sparrow’s book, the Living Receiver may have fourth-dimensional powers, including telekinesis, strength, and mind control. When Donnie Darko breaks the water main at the school, there’s a shot with an axe through the head of their mascot, Mongrel. The school staff remarked that the Mongrel is made of bronze and wondered how the perpetrator got the axe up there. The axe’s placement is arguably the first evidence that he had some otherworldly ability. But he isn’t the only one.

Who is Frank the Rabbit?

Every time we see Frank the Rabbit, aside from two moments at the film’s end, he is dead. It is, essentially, his ghost that we’re seeing appear. 

The first time we see Frank in his living form is as he appears during the final night of the Tangent Universe, wearing his homemade rabbit costume for a Halloween party. 

Frank unwittingly runs over Donnie Darko’s love interest, Gretchen, which leads to Donnie shooting and killing him. This event gave him the eye wound we’d seen him with as Frank the Rabbit in the movie theater when he asked Donnie, “Why are you wearing that stupid man suit?”. 

If you’re wondering how Frank the Rabbit’s ghost form can be skulking about whilst in the same universe as his living, breathing form, I refer you to the beginning, where I asked if you believe in time travel.

Because Donnie Darko deals heavily with the fourth dimension, Frank the Rabbit is not just a ghost -he is known as the Manipulated Dead.

The Manipulated Dead in Donnie Darko

When someone dies in a Tangent Universe who otherwise would not have died in the Primary one, they are the “Manipulated Dead,” whose sole purpose is to enact the movements necessary for the Living Receiver to close out the Tangent Universe. 

They have many powers, even more so than the Living Receiver. They will set an “Ensurance Trap” to ensure the circumstances align for the Living Receiver to return the Artifact. In this case, Frank the Rabbit is the Manipulated Dead. 

From “The Philosophy of Time Travel”:

The Manipulated Dead are more powerful than the Living Receiver. If someone dies within the Tangent Dimension, they can contact the Living Receiver through the Fourth Dimensional Construct.

 The Fourth Dimensional Construct is made of Water.

 The Manipulated Dead will manipulate the Living Receiver using the Fourth Dimensional Construct (see Appendix A and B).

The Manipulated Dead will often set an Ensurance Trap for the Living Receiver to ensure that the Artifact is returned safely to the Primary Universe.

If the Ensurance Trap succeeds, the Living Receiver is left with no choice but to use his Fourth Dimensional Power to send the Artifact back into the Primary Universe before the Black hole collapses upon itself.”

Having Donnie flood the school puts him in the position to meet Gretchen Ross, and burning down Jim Cunningham’s house sets the stage for the Halloween party. These moments were crucial in getting Donnie to the right place at the right time to return the artifact.

As an eerie aside, we saw Gretchen Ross die in the Tangent Universe, yet we never see her have the powers or appearance of Frank the Rabbit. While some assert that she is one of the Manipulated Dead, and others theorize she may not have been dead, I have a different idea.

Gretchen was with Donnie the night that she died because she found her mother was missing, and it seemed her stepfather had returned. It’s possible that had Gretchen not been with Donnie, her stepdad could have found her, and she could have suffered a tragic fate regardless. Hence, it would not technically make her a Manipulated Dead, as she was destined to die in the Primary Universe on the same day.  

That’s just a theory, though. 

It’s time to talk about the Manipulated Living. 

The Manipulated Living

In one section of the book, Roberta Sparrow explains that those living in the Tangent Universe near the Living Receiver are called the Manipulated Living. These people are copies of the Primary Universe’s versions, but they know something is amiss. The Manipulated Living will subconsciously lead the Living Receiver’s path to restore the universe. Or, as Roberta Sparrow put it in the book:

“The Manipulated Living are often the close friends and neighbors of the Living Receiver.

They are prone to irrational, bizarre, and often violent behavior. 

This is the unfortunate result of their task, which is to assist the Living Receiver in returning the Artifact to the Primary Universe.

The Manipulated Living will do anything to save themselves from Oblivion.” 

You may have noticed that Donnie Darko seemed surrounded by people acting out of pocket, such as his friends, Miss Farmer, his bully, and his bully’s pal (baby Seth Rogen). I am still waiting for justice for Cherita. 

We’re conditioned to think of this as typical behavior for these people, but the growing tension results from them being the Manipulated Living. Being close to the vortex puts people on some of their worst behavior.

So, Who is Roberta Sparrow?

When his science teacher, Dr. Monnitoff, gives Donnie Darko the Philosophy of Time Travel book, Donnie finds that Roberta Sparrow, or “Grandma Death,” was once a teacher at that school. Before that, she’d been a nun, but Monnitoff shares that one day, she’d abruptly quit and took over the job as a science teacher at the school, eventually penning the book. 

The foreword reads: 

“The intent of this short book is to be used as a simple and direct guide in a time of great danger.

 I pray that this is merely a work of fiction.

 If it is not, then I pray for you, the reader of this book.

 If I am still alive when the events foretold in these pages occur, then I hope that you will find me before it is too late.

Roberta Ann Sparrow

 October, 1944”

We also knew she walked to and from her mailbox each day, anticipating a letter, seemingly convinced it could come at any time. 

While there are numerous theories as to how Roberta Sparrow knew all that she did, including theories that she may have been a Living Receiver in a previous Tangent Universe, I think if you take into account the rest of the film, her abandoned-nun history, references to God at various points through her book, and the miscellaneous “Act of God” references throughout the film, I believe she had a vision from God or otherwise spiritual revelation that warned her what was to come. There’s no official confirmation on Roberta Sparrow besides what I shared in the first paragraph. 

Why did Roberta Sparrow Say, “Every Living Thing on Earth Dies Alone”?

While much of the film is up to the viewer’s interpretation, it seems to do with helping Donnie to accept his fate. Remember that the Manipulated Living do things that will help propel the Living Receiver in the right direction. After Roberta Sparrow shared this with Donnie, it caused him to begin to question his spiritual beliefs.

Her impact on him was evident when he shared what Roberta Sparrow had told him with his psychiatrist. When the doctor asked an innocuous follow-up question, Donnie Darko launched a speech on his thoughts on God. That’s how Donnie seemed to take the quote, though there’s no indication it had a spiritual subtext. This idea stuck as Donnie Darko talked to his science teacher later, asking if we could change our destinies so long as we move within “God’s channel.” 

The belief in something more was instrumental in dictating what would happen later.

Where did Cellar Door Come From?

One thing about the movie that took me years to finally understand is why the “Cellar Door” scene happened. The rest of the movie seemed so well put together; it seemed silly that Donnie Darko would think to go to Roberta Sparrow’s cellar door at the climax just because Miss Pomeroy had it written on the chalkboard earlier that day. 

However, I’ve come to understand with time and perspective that Donnie Darko spends most of the film seeing bizarre synchronicities. He repeatedly remarks, “It can’t just be a coincidence.” As we’ve been divulging into the information in Roberta Sparrow’s Philosophy of Time Travel book, so has Donnie. By the final day, he’s accepted that these are happening for a reason. He’s learning to read the signs placed before him.

The Songs That Played in Donnie Darko

It’s no secret that I love the music used in horror movies, and Donnie Darko is incredibly exceptional as its music often accurately expresses precisely what is going on. 

“Mad World” by Gary Jules is one example, especially given the “the dreams in which I’m dying are the best I ever had” line playing after Donnie Darko had just essentially awoken from a dream to die. 

Another example is using INXS’s “Tear Us Apart” with lines like “two worlds collided.”

But the key to understanding it all lies in the song “Killing Moon” by Echo and the Bunnymen.

The frontman of the band Ian McCulloch noticed the connections between his song and the movie and shared in this interview with Louder Sound:

“I’d mentioned somewhere that The Killing Moon was about pre-destiny, and [Kelly] wrote the whole f***ing film about it. […] Great as it is, he should at least have given us a credit for the idea.”

That sentiment is the exact reason why this song helps us understand the movie. “Killing Moon” is about death, fate, and falling in love, with ominous lines on how everything will eventually end.

“Under Blue Moon, I saw you. So soon, you’ll take me. 

 Up in your arms. Too late to beg you;

 Or cancel it, though I know it must be

 The killing time, unwillingly mine.

 Fate up against your will…” 

This song perfectly sums up the film (even down to the Bunny Man), as it represents things ending and Donnie Darko coming to grips with his fate. There has been a design where whichever route he chose would lead to his end. 

Why was Donnie Darko Laughing at the End?

While this is a theory, I believe it all involved irony. Donnie was saved from the jet engine falling on his room, only for him to return to die at the hands of a jet engine falling on his room. Outside of that, there is much irony in Donnie Darko’s feelings on Jim Cunningham’s Love and Fear charade. Only once Donnie Darko overcame his fears did he sacrifice himself in the throes of love to save the Primary Universe. He’s “not afraid anymore!”

Most importantly, the guy had just seen a 6-foot-tall rabbit from the future for the last month, used telekinesis to time travel and save the world, and is now moments away from certain death. Anyone who finds themselves in that position is allowed a little maniacal laughter. Go ahead; you deserve it. 

Why did Donnie Darko Have to Die?

Remember that the name of the game is to return the Artifact to the Primary Universe. In this case, the mysterious missing jet engine that appeared at the beginning was the engine Donnie Darko telepathically ripped off the plane in the final shot of the Tangent Universe. He was returning the Artifact and himself with it. 

This part might give you a headache; feel free to skip it. 

As Donnie Darko was delivering the Artifact back to the same point in time in the Primary Universe that it appeared, his consciousness picked up where he would have been if the Tangent Universe hadn’t happened. Remember that what saved Donnie from dying via jet engine in the first place was Frank the Rabbit telling him to “wake up.” Since there’s no Tangent Universe, there’s no future ghost bunny to wake Donnie and get him to safety.

Since pre-destiny is a considerable factor in this movie, try not to get too wrapped up in paradoxes.

Why does Gretchen Wave at Donnie’s Mom?

At the end of the movie, we see all the characters wake up, seeming to remember the events of the Tangent Universe. Despite never meeting Donnie, Gretchen Ross waves to his mother at the end as she is grieving her son. Gretchen feels a clear connection to her because she was also one of the Manipulated Living. Roberta Sparrow has a section for that:

“When the Manipulated awaken from their Journey into the Tangent Universe, they are often haunted by the experience in their dreams.

Many of them will not remember.

Those who do remember the Journey are often overcome with profound remorse for the regretful actions buried within their Dreams, the only physical evidence buried within the Artifact itself, all that remains from the lost world.

Ancient myth tells us of the Mayan Warrior killed by an Arrowhead that had fallen from a cliff, where there was no Army, no enemy to be found.

We are told of the Medieval Knight mysteriously impaled by sword he had not yet built.

We are told that these things occur for a reason.”

Keeping it Simple

When all else fails when trying to understand Donnie Darko, remember the scene where Miss Pomeroy is going over Watership Down with her class. When Donnie asks why we should care what happens to a bunch of rabbits, Miss Pomeroy explains that “the rabbits are us.” We see bits of ourselves in these characters. Gretchen adds that we care about them because the author cares about them. Donnie Darko was a troubled youth who stumbled into a situation greater than himself. It was just his story, and now it’s over. The moments and characters stick with us, whether or not we fully understand it. 

Also, please remember to thank your Miss Pomeroys. 

Donnie Darko is a film with many layers that make it easy to watch repeatedly. I hope you can watch it again with all this in mind and pick up on something new. 

The director and writer Richard Kelly has professed his love for “worldbuilding, ” which shows in his works. Richard Kelly reportedly has new stuff on the way, but while you’re waiting, his horror movie The Box is worth checking out when you’re done dissecting Donnie Darko. 

Did you learn something new? Did any of my theories infuriate you with their potential wrongness? Let us know in the comments! 

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