The characters Tom and Donnie Darko are both young adults affected by schizophrenia. They experience hallucinations and delusions as a result of their condition. Specifically, both characters are plagued by mental manifestations that only they can see and which torment them. However, their experiences differ in that Donnie Darko's manifestation aids him, while Tom's manifestation aims to harm him. Their appearances and behaviors provide clues to their mental states and the impacts of living with schizophrenia.

2. The social group represented are those with particular mental instabilities. Schizophrenia is a disorder in which a
person can be affected by hallucinations and delusions. Causing them to believe in things that are not reality as a
cause of a poor emotional responsiveness state , or a breakdown of thought processes.
Our character Tom is a young adult affected by This young adult is from the film Donnie darko(Jake
schizophrenia, he is plagued by hallucinations that Gyllenhall) a troubled teenager in suburban Maryland. A
are most prevailing while he is asleep. He lives two schizophrenic with a history of violence, he has recently
separate lives one is his ‘dream state reality’ and the stopped taking his medication and as a result is
other is the ‘real world’. In this film the figment sleepwalking.
created is out to harm tom and essentially kill him, he sleepwalks and meets Frank, a man in a menacing
by appearing in his dream state every night and bunny costume which happens to be a figment of his
starving him of sleep as well as fighting and imagination. This figment then instructs him through out
tormenting him. the film to do negative things, such as vandalise property.

3. Analysis
Similarities
Donny Darko & Tom
Very stern, and mysterious facial expressions, this shows the complexity of the characters emotional state. This elaborates the fact that
the characters are not happy people and their ailment is very disruptive.
Both plagued by mental manifestations only they can see. This emphasizes the stereotype that to be diagnosed with schizophrenia you
must believe in things that are not there. Even though it can be diagnosed in many different forms.
Unkempt appearances : Hair is very scruffy, those with mental disorders are usually represented as caring about their personal
appearance last. Due to the fact that their mental condition affects them daily and is their priority even when they do not want it to be.
Remain focal points in a shot, the light sources seem to only show on the characters bodies, especially their faces to stress the facial
expressions
Simple style of clothing, T-shirts/jumpers.
This is a western style of clothing indicating origin. Something that young adult between 16-20 would wear. Our target audience is this
age so to make them relate to the character more and accept them we made them appear as similar to them as possible.
The male gender, we used a male as know that from stereotypes the male figure is more dominant when compared to the female, this
would add emphasis on whatever our character was doing, especially due to the fact that a larger proportion of our target audience would
be males.
Age, the symptoms for schizophrenia typically occurs in young adulthood. This is why we chose to have a visibly young looking
character, to portray correctly those who would be affected by this disorder. By having a male between 16 to 20, it will allow the audience
to believe the more violent occurrences, than if the male was much older or younger.
Type of disorder, there are many types of the disorder but both characters have the same type in that their thought processes are
damaged and this in turn causes them to imagine and believe in what they see. Both plagued by mental manifestations only they can
see. This emphasizes the stereotype that to be diagnosed with schizophrenia you must believe in things that are not there.
The mise-en-scene of the two shots show two characters with a similar facial expression , this tells us that they are feeling the same kind
of powerful emotion, such as confusion.

4. Analysis
Differences
Donnie Darko Tom
Has a menacing undertone , to his facial expression. Due to his Has a confused undertone, to his facial expression. This is due to
acceptance and pride of his violent past and further acts of the fact that he is being plagued by his imagination and doesn’t
violence embrace it like
Plagued by a manifestation of his imagination that provides aid Tom’s manifestation is out to harm him and usually combats him.
and help even if for negative reasons.
Hair is relatively short when compared to tom indicating, he takes Hair is curlier and longer, showing that personal appearance
better care of himself. does not matter to Tom as much as Donny Darko. This may
prove that tom may be in a more confused state, and less
concerned about how his image looks to other people.
The focal point is Donnie only as the background is blurred and In the shot Tom is the focal point also but different techniques
can’t be properly seen. In this shot Donnie is the only thing the have been used to ensure this. The shot is at an angle whereby
audience should be paying attention to. the audience can see the back and front of tom by using a mirror
to reflect his image.
Donnie is shown to be wearing a t-shirt only , indicating maybe a Tom is wearing a robe over his t-shirt unusual to a male of his
young adult who has the potential to fit in and likes to follow age as its not the 16-20 age group who would stereotypically
trends. wear this. Thos e who are much older would be seen in this, this
could be an indication of his maturity or his unique style.
Shown holding an axe this tells us that he is a violent and angry Tom is shown to be looking in the mirror showing a reflective
character who may have just been doing some vandalism of characteristic, he seems to be non –violent in this shot and looks
some sort, as his t-shirt indicates a lot of movement has been as if he is thinking.
done
The back ground is blurred and Donnie is in focus however The background as well as tom are in focus showing that in that
emphasising his importance. scene he is not more important that the surroundings.
Donnie has no facial hair indicating he is a young adolescent Tom has a stubbly beard, not clean shaven this would indicate
his uncaring