Donnie Darko (2001)

With introduction by Dr. Peter Jones, Associate Professor Psychology, University of Plymouth

Richard Kelly’s 2001 debut became an instant pop-culture classic and launched the career of Jake Gyllenhaal. After narrowly escaping a bizarre accident, a troubled teenager is plagued by visions of a huge bunny rabbit that manipulates him to commit a series of crimes. Political, satirical and deeply unsettling, the film riffs on memories of James Stewart’s Harvey and the chilling atmospheres of David Lynch to create a wholly original vision of troubled American suburbia.

Dir. Richard Kelly, US, 2001, 113 mins.

Cast. Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Drew Barrymore, Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Celluloid Psychology was devised by Dr. Alastair Smith, School of Psychology as an antidote to the usual depictions of psychology on our screens.

Peter Jones is a cognitive psychologist who is interested in behaviour. He will discuss the film’s theme of free will, and how the stimuli we encounter in our environment influence our choices.

Age restriction: 15 certificate

Image credit: Donnie Darko (2001)

Host or Publisher The Arts Institute