28 days...6 hours...42 minutes...12 seconds

There are certain films that when you watch, they just blow your mind. In some cases - like the magnificent French horror Martyrs, they absolutely ruin your world. It takes a special type of film that leaves you so spellbound that you have to sit and watch the credits just why your mind positions itself back in its usual place.

For anyone who does not know what this blog is going to be about from the title - shame on you! However, let I will give you another chance, if you promise to go watch the film right after reading this... deal?

Deal.

So for all of you out there who doesn't know the film I am discussing here, let me put you our of your misery - Donnie Darko.

When I first watched this film I had no idea what it was about - I saw Empire had given it ***** and that was enough for me. A film set in the 1980s didn't exactly get me excited as I knew that would mean an '80s soundtrack - and I am not a fan of '80s music ladies and gentlemen! Yet as soon as Echo and the Bunnymen's Killing Moon hits at the start of the film, I knew I was in for a different kind of 80s movie.

There are so many truly mind blowing scenes in this film I could literally write about every single second of this film easily. The thing I love so much about Richard Kelly's masterpiece is that every person you speak to has a different interpretation of the film and different lines or scenes that stay with them long after the film has ended. There have been countless dissertations written on this movie and it is a film that is impossible to watch just once.

If you find a film that blows your mind, leaves you utterly spellbound, completely confused and totally compelled all at the same time - you know you are watching something special.

There were two scenes in this film that sent shivers down my spine. The first was where Donnie and Gretchen are in the cinema and Frank appears to show Donnie Jim Cunnigham's house on the screen. It involves my favourite quote of the film 'Why are wearing that stupid man costume?' - I don't know what it is about that line, considering there are countless great quotes in Donnie Darko, this one always remains locked in my mind. It makes me think Donnie is something other than just a troubled teenager, masquerading in human form...

My interpretation of the film is Donnie is some kind of superhero - the most telling scene in this movie in my eyes is Gretchen asking; "Donnie Darko? What the hell kind of name is that? It's like some sort of superhero or something" Donnie's response "What makes you think I'm not?" - just writing that makes me want to watch this film again!

My favourite scene is the sublime ending as Gary Jules' haunting version of Mad World accompanies snapshots of the main characters in the film awakening from, in some cases horrible and others wonderful dream. Everything about the scene just works, you feel like a portal has come out and sucked you directly into the world of Donnie Darko and I find myself with this stupid smile on my face at the end of this scene - genius work.

If you have seen this film I ask, what is your interpretation and what is your favourite scene? If you have not seen this film you have exactly 28 days...6 hours...42 minutes...12 seconds until I delete you from my facebook...