Richard Kelly's 2001 cult horror film Donnie Darko remains a strange yet thoughtful film about fate over 20 years after its original release. The film follows the story of Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) as he attempts to uncover a strange time-travel phenomenon after a plane engine crashes into his bedroom. Donnie Darko deals with themes of mental health, young relationships and dealing with apathetic adults, but some of its story originates from the supernatural.
The state of Virginia is one of America's oldest, filled with extensive history and beautiful landmarks. A state like Virginia is also home to many myths and urban legends, including its most famous legend of the Bunny Man Bridge, which is directly referenced throughout Donnie Darko. But what exactly is Bunny Man Bridge, and why is it important in Donnie Darko?
The Legend Behind Bunny Man Bridge
The urban legend of the Bunny Man and Bunny Man Bridge has been around for several decades. Starting in the 1970s, people began seeing the Bunny Man in horrifying situations. While there are lots of varying details to the story, the legend remains the same at its core. According to the legend, a man dressed in a bunny costume would appear under a bridge in Fairfax County, Virginia, brandishing an ax or a similar weapon and attacking people.
Rumors of Bunny Man Bridge vary from person to person, but there are many recorded anecdotes of the incidents. The major consistencies are the location, now known as Bunny Man Bridge. Run-ins with the Bunny Man often occur around Halloween, turning the urban legend into Virginia's own spooky Halloween story.
How Donnie Darko Connects to Bunny Man Bridge
Donnie Darko connects a unique horror story with the state of Virginia and its most famous urban legend. Throughout the film, Donnie experiences "daylight hallucinations" with an ominous figure dressed up in a bunny suit called Frank (James Duval) giving him clues about the near future and Donnie's fears. Frank tells him that the world will end in "28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, 12 seconds," which coincidentally is on Halloween in the film.
At Donnie Darko's suspenseful climax, Frank is revealed to be a real person. He accidentally runs over Donnie's girlfriend Gretchen (Jena Malone) with his car and kills her on Halloween night. He fulfills the legend of the Bunny Man but ends up being killed by a heartbroken Donnie. Donnie then decides to reverse time by being killed by the stray airplane engine, saving both Gretchen and Frank.
Donnie Darko's link to Virginia and its mythology is not a mere coincidence. Richard Kelly is originally from the state, growing up outside the capital in Midlothian. His perspective as someone from a smaller Virginian town informs the film's setting in Middlesex, Virginia. Although the film was actually shot in Los Angeles, California, its sprawling suburban look is grounded in Virginian lore through the legend of the Bunny Man.
There are many horror films based on real-life events and true stories. While the validity of urban legends like the Bunny Man Bridge is up for debate, it certainly doesn't discourage the potential for those myths to inspire new stories. Donnie Darko's influence from Virginia's most iconic urban legend, the Bunny Man Bridge, creates an eerie new story about choice, fear and mortality.