Donnie Darko

Trivia: When Donnie is about to enter the car with Gretchen near the end of the film, he clutches at his stomach as if in pain, and we see Frank touch his eye after Donnie dies. Both these moments foreshadow pain: a deleted scene of Donnie's death shows a pole impaling his stomach right where he clutched it. And Donnie shoots Frank in the eye.

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.

Trivia: Frank tells Donnie that the world will end in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes and 12 seconds. The jet engine is shown landing in Donnie's room, killing him, exactly one hour, 42 minutes and 12 seconds into the movie. (01:42:10)

Trivia: When Donnie is riding his bike at the beginning of the movie, the Trans Am with which Frank runs over Gretchen is seen during this opening sequence.

Jazetopher

Trivia: In the "Cunning Visions" infomercial, Jim Cunningham (the man arrested for having kiddie porn) grabs the young boy actors behind.

Trivia: After taking lessons to prepare for her role in the film, Tiler Peck (Beth Farmer of Sparkle Motion group) pursued more lessons after the film, and is now a soloist with the New York City Ballet.

Jazetopher

Trivia: The number 88 may also be a small reference to 'Back to the Future'. Not only does Donnie mention the DeLorean while talking about time travel, but 88mph is the speed the DeLorean needs to reach in order to time travel in BTTF.

Trivia: In the scene when the English Teacher is packing to leave her job, and Donnie asks about the meaning of 'Cellar Door' written on the board. She responds 'A famous Linguist once found those were the 2 most beautiful words in the English Language'. The Linguist she was referring to: J.R.R. Tolkien, (author of 'The Lord of The Rings' trilogy).

Shipper

Trivia: Some of the people in Jim Cunningham's video make cameo appearances at Donnie's school. The little boy on the video is the same kid that asked "how can I learn to fight" at the assembly in the auditorium. Also, the older girl in the video is the same girl who shows the newspaper with Jim Cunningham's arrest to Miss Farmer in the High School's main office. Their presence and/or placement at the school seems to indicate that Jim Cunningham's entire "Q + A" seminar at the school was staged, including the questions to be asked of him. This would also prove Donnie right about Jim Cunningham being a fake, only pretending to help people, as well as explaining his rapid success which is evidenced by his large home.

Jazetopher

Trivia: Both Vince Vaughn and Mark Wahlberg were lined up to play Donnie. Vaughn refused because he didn't feel comfortable playing a 16 year-old. Wahlberg wanted to play Donnie with a lisp but the director disagreed.

Visible crew/equipment: When Donnie and his Dad are in the car, talking, prior to nearly hitting Grandma Death, in the window behind Donnie's Dad is the reflection of a vehicle which says "Darko" clearly on it. There's also the reflection of a clapperboard on the backseat. (00:21:00)

Hamster

More mistakes in Donnie Darko

Dr. Lilian Thurman: Donnie, an atheist is someone who denies altogether the existence of God. You're an agnostic. An agnostic is someone who believes that there can be no proof of the existence of God, but does not deny the possibility that God exists.

More quotes from Donnie Darko

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?

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.

KeyZOid

More questions & answers from Donnie Darko

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