Is Donnie Darko Life-Hating?
Devin Harner maitains in his work that Donnie's martyrdom is difficult for viewers to accept because it brings him little peace -- that he is a confused young man who cannot find comfort in either science or Christianity. Donnie battles literal and figurative demons throughout the film only to accept that much of life is directionless and pointless. 18 I argue, however, that it is because of Donnie's discovery that life is a menacing void that brings him peace when he realizes he is about to die.
Donnie wants desperately to believe in God because he does not want to die alone. His therapist asks if he feels alone, and he states, "I'd like to believe I'm not, but I just... I've just never seen any proof so I... I just don't debate it anymore". 19 This running motif of the pointlessness of life and death transcends to even the most trivial of conversations with Donnie and his friends. While drinking rum and shooting bullets at cans and glass bottles, Donnie's friends discuss their need for a girl in their group. They begin joking about the Smurfs and Smurfette, and claim that Smurfette has sex with the other Smurfs. Donnie, however, argues that Smurfs are actually asexual, that Smurfs do not have reproductive organs, and asks the question, "what's the point of living if you don't have a dick?" 20 Indeed, although this question is humorous, it is a rhetorical question that emphasizes Donnie's lack of direction.
Donnie finally finds peace when he is confronted by death, and becomes engulfed in a fixed state of laughter. Indeed, Donnie cannot stop smiling when he becomes aware he is about to die, as he realizes life on earth has nothing for him. He conveys the fact that he has been saved when he states, "I hope that when the world comes to an end, I can breathe a sigh of relief, because there will be so much to look forward to". 21
Donnie Darko can be seen as an Apocalyptic allegory because there are scenes in the film that are blatantly life-hating; in other words, the film conveys a message that those who inhabit earth are evil, and those who die are saved -- the premise of the rapture in the Book of Revelation.
Donnie is a troubled teen that is determined to resolve his qualms about the meaning of life and the ambiguity of death -- he fears death, but is very intrigued by the concept. He becomes obsessed with Roberta Sparrow, who is known by local youth as "Grandma Death"; Donnie watches as she checks her mailbox several times a day but never seems to have any mail. After his father almost hits her with their vehicle one afternoon, Donnie approaches her to ask if she is okay; Grandma death confides to Donnie that "Every living creature on this earth dies alone". 17 This blunt sentence ignites a longing in Donnie to understand life and death.