Donnie Darko - Opening Sequence

Donnie Darko is a drama-thriller film about a boy with 'doomsday-related visions'. The opening scenes differ from many other thriller films, but still share the idea of making the audience question their relevance to the narrative. In the opening scene, Darko wakes up in the location pictured below and then cycles home.

The image above is an example of an establishing shot in which shadows are made predominant using low-key lighting to create a chiaroscuro effect which contrasts with the mountainous backdrop. Low key lighting is effective for creating an eerie atmosphere as it conceals the majority of the scene from the audience. This sense of mystery is important as it leaves the audience questioning the narrative and as a result they are likely to remain engaged with the plot.

The audience will question how Darko got to be at that road in the morning because of his outfit. It is clear that he has not gone out for a drink and fallen off his bike, for example, because of his clothing - the audience will assume that the pyjamas suggest he was originally in bed. This leads the audience to feel confused and want to understand how he woke up where he did. The confusion surrounding the first scenes is deliberate and is an example of how directors can play mind games with an audience. Mind games are typical narrative conventions of thriller movies and help to engage the audience and make them question every scene and its relevance to the narrative.

At first, the character appears to look confused which allows for the audience to identify with his thoughts. The close up shot above allows us to see Darko's facial expressions a little clearer and we can see that he is laughing which implies that waking up in bizarre locations is something that occurs regularly perhaps. Low key lighting is still being used and it presents a dark theme to the audience.

The location is introduces alongside exaggerated sound effects, such as thunder, and the sounds of birds. The birds help us to understand the time of day - the morning. The thunder represents fear and danger and suggests to the audience that there is something unsettling about either the location, or how Donnie got there. Eerie, tense music also creates a dark, mysterious atmosphere which puts the audience on edge.