donnie darko schizophrenic theory

[¤(ø[¤-{cellar door}-¤]ø)¤]

the movie is flawless, i suffer from a similar sleeping disorder, and once suffered schizophrenia. Was it at all a possibility in the movie though that donni was actually schizophrenic and was led to believe what he was seeing was true, maybe he had actually died and it's showing you what would of happend if he was still alive, it would have screwed up deaths plan? similar to final destination if you will...but of course much better of a movie

[ProvidencePortal]

Definitely. Though Kelly's commentary says it wasn't his intent, I believe some alternate interpretations of the movie stand just fine on critical theory alone -- and the idea that he was in fact schizophrenic is one such reading.

The other is the idea that, like the Twilight Zone episode that inspired Kelly and The Last Temptation of Christ, which is referenced in the film, the movie is about that "an alternate life flashing before your eyes" at the moment of death thing.

edit: added missing word (man I'm off my game today)

[anon]

Though an interesting idea, i think the fact that he dreams about an engine falling on his bed when one actually does is too much of a coincidance for there not to be something else involved.

[timeisonmyside]

Yeah, I like the schizo. theory (alot) but its problably the Living Reciever senario

[schizofrank28]

I actually love the Living Reciever idea

[tmmdi]

I don't like the idea that all of this never happened, who would dream of such a complex nature of that?

[Bigboy]

I don't really like the idea either - but you'd be surprised how elaborate and complex schizophrenic paranoid delusions can be!

[melody]

i thought he had depersonalization disorder and derealization disorder... along with some schizo tendencies... which could result from his disorders and not actually HAVE schizophrenia.. but i thats only because i have it and thats what it seems like he's suffereing/being blessed with. I only say blessed with because he discovered a warp in reality because of his disconnection with it in the first place... damn i love the irony.

[Rule Of Rose]

He never was schizophrenic in a deleted scene we learn that he pills are just Placebo also the director tells you in the commentary.

[frankief33dler]

It seems throughout the film that he's schizophrenic, but it's all the "aliens" or "God" or the outer forces leading him down a path. I like the idea that it was all in his head, but it's kind of like the movie "The Forgotten"...there's a hint to something crazy early on, then you think it's just mental problems of the main character, then the crazy twist is that it was actually real. I still love the way Donnie's mind works...schizo or not, he truly is a lot different from other people in the film. (Thank God for that, ugh)