By Scarlett Constand ‘16 | Staff Writer

Through its dark humor, intriguing physical setting and electrifying story, “Donnie Darko” is a perfect October Netflix movie.

Originally released in October 2001, “Donnie Darko” was an indie cult hit. It was not successful in terms of box office receipts, but it has garnered a strong underground following that is still building today.

A young Jake Gyllenhaal stars in the film, capturing the voice of a troubled high schooler, Donnie Darko. His parents do what they can, yet their son still spins out of control and into the darkness of his own mind. As the film progresses, Darko’s presumed schizophrenia worsens with increasingly regular hallucinations, each more vivid than the last.

The lighting in the film reflects its tone: haunting. The majority of the film’s scenes take place at night or in the dimness of dawn and dusk. The setting foreshadows the demise of Darko as well as the people around him.

Frank, a man in a bunny suit, is his only reliable company, but he may not be for the better. As Darko discontinues his medication, Frank becomes a more frequent visitor. It is only with the death of Darko’s lover, destroyed by Frank, that Darko begins to end himself. Frank causes Darko to ponder ideas he normally would not, such as the possibility of time travel.

Time travel is a complicated issue, yet Darko delves into its core. He quite literally enters a portal through time and puts everything at stake in the process. Darko’s internal struggle is what makes the film.

The only drawback to the film is its ambiguity. Is time travel real? Is Donnie truly disturbed? These questions have answers only an audience can determine.

Lovers of the strange and mysterious will be enamored by the twisted charm of “Donnie Darko,” and October is the month for just that; it is the time to test mental limits and gain new knowledge of existential ideals.

“Donnie Darko” is a fantastic film with dark, wistful characters who simply want their lives to make sense. Clarity is not guaranteed in their complicated lives, but they have a clue as to what it may be.