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When you think of Richard Kelly’s Donnie Darko (2001), your first thought is probably not “superhero film.” In fact, if you searched it on IMDb, you would see that this film is considered a science-fiction drama. While it certainly fits into this category based on first impressions, the film fits into the superhero genre as well. Obviously, this film has a different tone and approach to a superhero movie, but it does contain many of the tropes of the genre.
Donnie Darko (Richard Kelly; 2001)
Donnie Darko tells the story of Donnie, a troubled young man whose life changes when he escapes a strange accident. A jet engine fell from the sky and lands in his bedroom while he was fortunately sleepwalking. After this incident, Donnie begins having visions of a man in a bunny suit warning him of the end of the world and manipulates him into committing several crimes.
Donnie’s Powers
The first and most obvious superhero movie trope is Donnie’s name. Many classic superheroes have alliterative names: Peter Parker, Bruce Banner, Bucky Barnes, etc. Gretchen, the new girl and Donnie’s potential love interest, even comments on this similarity when she first hears his name. She says, “It’s like some sort of superhero or something,” to which Donnie responds, “What makes you think I’m not?” It is also significant that Gretchen points this out as the love interest is often the person closest to discovering the superhero’s identity.
“It’s like some sort of superhero or something,” “What makes you think I’m not?
Additionally, Donnie seems to have a superpower. Not all audiences would see that Donnie’s visions are comparable to any superhero’s powers. His therapist believes that his visions of Frank the bunny and the future are due to mental illness. However, his visions allow him to see the future, and he uses this knowledge to expose the criminal Jim Cunningham and save Gretchen and his family from the end of the world.
Donnie has difficulty controlling his power, which is a common theme in superhero films. For example, it is well-known that Marvel’s Jean Grey struggled to control her powers throughout her story. Donnie has no control over what he does when he is sleepwalking, and he appears in a trance-like state when he talks to Frank. The note left by Donnie underneath the vandalized school mascot even says, “They made me do it,” indicating that Donnie is being manipulated by his power and Frank.
Coming Of Age
Like many superhero films, Donnie Darko is also a coming-of-age story. Donnie Darko follows the basic formula of a troubled youth who is presented with a very mature conflict and has to navigate their way through their changing existence. Like other young superheroes, Donnie has been bullied by his peers and is a bit of a misfit. Flash Thompson bullies Peter Parker because he is a shy, academic type, while Flash is popular and outgoing.
Donnie is also a withdrawn intellectual with a troubled past. He burnt down an abandoned building and has “emotional problems,” for which he is in therapy. Early in the film, a potential love interest is introduced when Donnie’s school gets a new girl. Gretchen provides the teen romance aspect that many superhero/coming-of-age films utilize. For example, both Donnie and Peter Parker experience teen romances which influences them to act heroically.
Young heroes often have one or more mentors that help them along their journey. Donnie’s mentors are his teachers, Professor Monnitoff and Ms. Pomeroy. Ms. Pomeroy sees Donnie’s intelligence and encourages him in his schoolwork. Professor Monnitoff provides insights into time travel and points Donnie in the direction of Mrs. Sparrow and time travel. Though he doesn’t know it, Monnitoff was helping Donnie learn about his “power.”
Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man (2002) says it best: “with great power comes great responsibility.” This phrase explains how superheroes often have a coming-of-age experience within their superhero experience. Young superheroes have to learn what it means to be a hero while experiencing a psychological and moral transition from childhood to adulthood. Donnie is faced with the issue of knowing the apocalypse and the power to fix it. His journey throughout the film is learning how to use that power correctly while also grappling with mental illness, family issues, and high school troubles.
The film also depicts Donnie’s transition from selfishness to selflessness; Donnie matures emotionally as he makes this transition and deals with mature issues. Early in the film, he seems to be a mentally ill, sexually charged, and troubled teenager. Oftentimes, teens in coming-of-age films feel a sense of invincibility, and Donnie appears to share this feeling. Perhaps it is because he thinks the world will end in twenty-eight days, but throughout the film, Donnie does things that could get him in serious trouble, such as: cursing out his teacher, calling out Jim Cummings, and damaging school property.
As he comes of age, he goes from this reckless behavior to self-sacrificing behavior. His willingness to give his life for his family and Gretchen shows how selfless he has become and how he has used his power to do the right, responsible thing. As a result, Donnie overcomes his ongoing fear of dying alone and appreciates the beauty around him at this moment.
Good Versus Evil
Superhero films often focus on the dichotomy of good and evil; no traditional superhero story would be complete without a supervillain. In the same way, good and evil are depicted in Donnie Darko: one cannot exist without the other. While it may not address good and evil as directly, the film is filled with dichotomies. Jim Cunningham, the self-help instructor, and Kitty Farmer, the gym teacher, and Jim Cunningham supporter, enforce the idea of two driving forces in the world: fear and love.
One could view this as mirroring good and evil. We see this referenced in other places as well. For example, the two movies playing at the movie theater Donnie attends are Evil Dead and The Last Temptation of Christ. Additionally, Kitty Farmer often brings up God and prayer, and the “evil” bullies discuss Satan. There is also an emphasis on the dichotomy of fire and water. First, Donnie floods his school, and then he burns Jim Cunningham’s house down. Ms. Pomeroy assigned Graham Greene’s “The Destructors” to her English class. In this story, a group of teens burns a historic house down. Donnie comments on the irony of the story in class, saying, “destruction is a form of creation.”
A final dichotomy in the film is that of the primary reality and the tangent reality. At the beginning of the film, a jet engine of unknown origins falls directly on the Darko house, specifically Donnie’s room. Thankfully, Donnie had been sleepwalking, so he was not harmed in the accident. However, because Donnie was not killed, a new tangent reality was created; Donnie should have been killed in the accident. Donnie’s goal is to correct the tangent reality within twenty-eight days in order to return it to the primary reality. Donnie challenges the idea of a dichotomy, claiming that the world is not that simple. Jim Cunningham projects a moral and righteous personality, but in reality, he is a pedophile. Donnie himself symbolizes this as well. He is an anti-hero of sorts in that he has done bad things, but ultimately, his actions result in salvation for those he loves.
Breaking The Mold
While I believe Donnie Darko can be classified as a superhero/coming-of-age film, the nonlinear storytelling and the unconventional anti-hero make it a unique and non-formulaic film. For one, there does not appear to be one true “villain” in this film. It is true that Frank manipulates Donnie and seems to drive the plot forward as the main antagonist of the film. However, he should not be classified as a villain just because he is the antagonist.
Additionally, part of Donnie’s isolation comes from his struggle with mental illness; superhero movies do not often focus on a hero who is battling something as serious as schizophrenia. Donnie even points out how this struggle has set him apart from his otherwise normal family members. He asks his mother,
“How’s it feel to have a wacko for a son?”
Donnie’s “superpower” is not typical, like super strength or the ability to fly; he has a psychic ability. It is often understood that the plot of superhero films are completely fictional and occur in a universe where anything, no matter how far-fetched, is possible. Donnie Darko is different in that it bases the plot in our reality. Of course, the plot seems absurd, but because it is grounded in questions of science and religion, it feels realistic-even possible.
Many superhero films use linear storytelling, but Donnie Darko takes a different approach. While the story begins linearly, by the end, it is understood that there is an entirely different reality or timeline occurring simultaneously. This concept of a “multiverse” is currently being explored in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Loki (2021) and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). Previously in the MCU, we have mainly seen linear, chronological storytelling. However, like Donnie Darko, Loki and Dr. Strange are breaking the mold by exploring the multiverse.
The Verdict: Is Donnie Darko A Superhero Movie?
After a thorough analysis of Donnie Darko, it should be determined that Donnie is, in fact, a superhero. Donnie struggles to use his power to overcome the obstacles in his life and comes of age in the process.
He is an anti-hero who gives his life to save those he loves. Viewing Donnie as a superhero paves the way for even more “unconventional” and relatable superheroes to be represented in the future. This film takes the tropes of the superhero genre and expresses them in a unique and thought-provoking way, allowing it to transcend the Science-fiction genre.