Themes

So, what is the real issue here? I would say there are quite a few.

Time travel

The philosophy of time travel is one big part of the film, and also of understanding the plot. Donnie did not travel in time himself but sent the artifact back in time so that time would stabilise itself and the tangent universe would vanish.

Sacrifice

Donnie Darko sacrificed himself in order to save his girlfriend, Gretchen. I think it’s part of his life to die, that it is pre-decided. During one of his chats with Prof. Monnitoff, Donnie mentions his theories about pre-decided life. I think knows that his mission in life is saving the world and the people living in it from mass destruction, and then to die. Somehow, I think Donnie Darko shows one that life is pretty much pre-decided, that all human beings are determined to one destiny, or series of events before they die.

Youth

Donnie Darko is a film about teenage-life, and teenage-conflicts. Donnie Darko is a teenager, who listens to music, reads books and opposes Jim Cunningham. He is arguing with parents, bugging his sister and loving Gretchen.

Emotional problems

Donnie Darko has emotional problems..Or is he simply just affected by the presence of the tangent universe and the problems tied to it? One does not know that for certain. Personally, I think Donnie is just preparing himself for the trouble in the future world, and therefore does and says odd things. Maybe that’s sort of an emotional problem?

The fact that his family and his friends are manipulated makes me sure that he does not have emotional problems. Its part of their task as manipulated to behave irregular behaviour and to try and destroy Donnie. If turning the whole relationship upside-down, it is the people surrounding Donnie that have emotional problems.. They do not know what they’re doing, or why they’re doing it. They just talk and do things. Donnie is the one with all the answers.