Theme Analysis

The most complicated interpretation of the film, and one that can be gleaned after repeated viewings, involves time travel and the idea that there are tangent paths (or parallel universes) that co-exist alongside our "real" paths. We can neither see, hear, nor experience these parallel existences, but Donnnie Darko gets this opportunity. Because he is a hero, Donnie gets to travel on one of these tangent paths in order to learn how to save--not only his loved ones--but the entire universe. According to the book that Donnie reads in the film, The Philosophy of Time Travel, a rift or disruption can occur in the space/time continuum. This rift is revealed when an artifact from the future (the jet engine) shows up in the past (in Donnie’s bedroom) without traveling along the proper channels. This corruption will mean the end of the world, unless Donnie can figure out how to fix things. This rift also creates a tangent path (or universe) that Donnie may travel upon (or through). Frank (the bunny) comes from the future of this tangent universe. Throughout the film, Donnie travels on this tangent path and learns about time travel to save the world. A wormhole (or proper channel) must be created for the jet engine to pass through. At the end of the film, Donnie finds the wormhole. The jet engine (along with Donnie) now travels along the wormhole to the past point. The engine appears in the same place it did the first time around, but this time it has a reason for its appearance. Donnie is in his proper place. Now there is no corruption (no rift), and the universe is saved. At the end, the other characters do not have conscious memories of this tangent universe, but they may have some subconscious memories that appear in dreams. This explains the scene toward the end in which we see the characters in their bedrooms. They are dreaming of the tangent universe or remembering it on some level. It also explains the fact that Gretchen and Mrs. Darko seem to recognize each other after Donnie dies. If tangent universes exist, this theory could account for things like deja-vu and the feeling we get when we feel like we know someone we’ve just met.