Continuity mistake: When Cherita makes her mark on the lifeline blackboard, there are some smudges on the broad chalk line. In the next shot, the line is perfect again. (00:41:30)
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
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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: What was the message that Dr. Thurman was trying to say to Rose? She said she needs to talk to Rose for some reason. Why?
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Answer: I think I can recall enough to answer. Dr. Thurman's most recent therapy session with Donnie resulted in her assessment that Donnie's condition had quickly deteriorated and he was (or might be) in imminent danger of hurting himself or engaging in some type of dangerous or violent or self-destructive behavior (or doing something bizarre, such as attempting time travel). Under hypnosis, Donnie admitted to Dr. Thurman that he "did it again" (flooded the school), burned down Cunningham's house because he had "kiddy porn", that "Frank" was going to kill someone, and the "sky was going to open up"; Donnie was also crying. Dr. Thurman wanted Rose to be aware and, undoubtedly, keep a close eye on Donnie and inform her immediately of any changes or behaviors of concern. Why Dr. Thurman would leave a telephone message under these circumstances and fail to immediately intervene or take preventive measures does not speak highly of her competence. I think showing the party before Dr. Thurman leaving the message left some viewers in the dark.
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