Donnie Darko Analysis

2. The opening sequence begins with institution logo's
the heavy sounds of wind and thunder make the
scene more tense and immerse the viewer, setting
the scene to be outside. The opening shot is a pan
of early morning with the thunder sounds dying
down that symbolizes that the danger and tension
of the previous night has passed. A stereotypical
shot of the sunrise is there to connote the
beginning of something, the darkness of this scene
doesn't allow the viewers to relax, the low key
lighting still provokes a slight sense of tension.

3. As the title for the movie imitates lightning and the sky
holds the colours of purple & lilac, which are typically
spiritual or paganistic colours, we get the sense of the
film being more orientated around the supernatural. The
slow motion on the characters makes you feel alienated
from what you see on screen. It almost seems like the
moment is being preserved so that time where they all
feel happy and can function normally is kept frozen in
time, almost like looking back on a memory. This is used
as a contrast to the movie itself because after the
opening sequence there's discord through out the
entirety of the movie.