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Post by Fiona on May 13, 2005 15:34:14 GMT -5
Hi, I'm a final year degree student conducting research into horror films, specifically Donnie Darko. I'm looking at what makes this film frightening/interesting to people. For instance Freud talks of fear being based around the return of repressed ideas, particularly from childhood. Do you think Donnie Darko fits with this idea or are there other reasons (aside from the evil rabbit!) which make this film scary?
Any answers will be gratefully received so thanks for your help in advance!
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Post by Fiona on May 13, 2005 17:08:17 GMT -5
Hi, Just to apologise, i didn't realise it was considered spamming to post in more than one forum, sorry! I don't know if I can delete this thread but the one I'm using is in the "how darko affected my life" thread.
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Post by Phil on May 15, 2005 6:20:25 GMT -5
I'm a final year degree student conducting research into horror films, specifically Donnie Darko. I dont mean to sound rude, but have you actaully watched DD? because if you did, youd realise it isnt actaully a horror film
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Post by timeisonmyside on Sept 25, 2005 10:18:36 GMT -5
Consider it more of a psycholigical thriller, but I would say Frank is really the only thing "scary" about it
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Post by Harry on Oct 4, 2006 2:19:14 GMT -5
What follows is what I believe to be the most scary aspect of the film. It is the predicament Donnie was facing, a heavy burden, taht he had to carry alone, but not only that. As the nature of his problem dictates that he sees hallucinations, which affect his behaviour and social awareness, he finds himself detached from the world around him. This is somewhat hinted upon in the film during the meeting between Dr Thurman and Donnie's parents. He is trapped in a downward spiral into autism. The actions and reactions of those around him show (with the exception of Dr Thurman) that they clear have no idea as to the reason behind his strange behaviour and assume he has a worsened mental illness. When I say worsened I mean that Donnie all his life has been a sleepwalker, and I believe that the reason Donnie is chosen to be the Living Receiver is because he would not hesitate to block out a scary hallucination such as that of Frank. What I mean is, those around him believe that his mental illness is worsening and that there is nothing they can do about it. Another example of this is his aggressive actions towards others (Mrs Farmer, Jim Cunningham). He is punished for his actions but this is not helping him, this is simply enclosing him further in his own cage separated from reality. This feeling of hopelessness which both from his friends and family and himself is in my opinion definitely the most horrifying aspect of this film. That there is simply nothing that can be done to ease anyone's mind, or to stop Donnie behaving in such ways. This really hits home after the end of the film when we realise that the attitudes and behaviours displayed by everyone (everyone being either the living receiver or the manipulated) which were deemed uncntrollable had a purpose: to ensure that Donnie eventually guided the jet engine into the past and into his house, thus killing himself. Everything needed to happen the way it did because something was not the way it was meant to be: Donnie was still alive. Donnie needed to die in order for the ill-feelings and attitudes to cease. This is a most horrifying concept and I commend Richard Kelly for conceiving such a concept, whether it was his intention or not.
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Post by Bigboy on Oct 4, 2006 13:26:44 GMT -5
It seems to me that the qualifying factor of Donnie's psyche is not that he would block out hallucination-like experiences, but that he is more receptive to them and more likely to accept them as truth than 'normal' people.
I'm not sure if I'm reading this right, but it seems to me that this interpretation of the film is saying that those with mental disabilities are such a burden on society that it is better for them to die; the world and poeple return to 'normal' BECAUSE Donnie dies.
That doesn't quite sit right with me.
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