Movie Explanation

Firstly this explanation is written assuming that you've seen the film. There are spoilers throughout so it could ruin the enjoyable experience of watching it for the first time.

The film has been carefully made so that there are multiple explanations to what happens. With the release of the director's cut some of the ambiguity has been taken away and the director's true version of the story becomes clearer. The explanation heavily revolves around the book Donnie gets from his teacher, "The Philosophy of Time Travel" written by Roberta Sparrow (Grandma Death). The book is a fictional one but some of the pages were in the film's web site and included into the director's cut version of the movie. You can read those pages here.

PU = Primary Universe (The Universe we exist in now)
TU = Tangent Universe (The parallel Universe that most of the film is set in)
PoTT = Philosophy of Time Travel

Tangent Universe

The PoTT states that time is usually a stable construct but every now and then the fourth dimension gets corrupted. When this happens it creates a TU which is highly unstable and will only last a few weeks before it collapses in upon itself. There is a danger that when the TU collapses it could cause a black hole capable of destroying the PU as well.

This is what happens in the movie, there is a corruption in time and at midnight on October 2nd a TU is created. The next 28 days are now set in this alternate reality. Shortly after the TU starts Frank wakes Donnie up and lures him out of the house. A few minutes later a huge jet engine falls though the rip in time and lands in Donnie's bedroom.

It is important to remember that the TU is NOT created by the jet engine or Frank waking up Donnie. We are already within the TU when both those events occur. Unfortunately we never find out what caused the TU to begin, it's just an unexplained phenomenon.

The Artifact

According to the PoTT when a TU is created an Artifact will also spontaneously appear. The Artifact is the first sign of evidence that a TU has been created and are always made from metal. In this case the Artifact is a giant jet engine.

Where the Artifact originally comes from is never disclosed. It was most likely created as the TU was being formed. The TU is an exact copy of the PU with one of everything copied into it. During the copying process there was a glitch and two jet engines were formed. The second engine has nowhere to go as it already exists so it's just dumped where the TU began, over Donnie's house.

The Artifact makes the TU unstable; it can't handle having the anomaly of a duplicate object within it. In order for the TU to unravel without forming a black hole it must once again be an exact copy of the PU. By removing one of the duplicate jet engines it will balance out the Universe allowing the TU to collapse safely. The only way to remove the Artifact is to send it through a portal into the PU.

The Living Receiver

When a TU occurs with an Artifact then a Living Receiver is also chosen. This person is chosen seemingly at random and in this case Donnie is the chosen one. As Donnie was at the epicentre of the TU this is most likely why he was selected. The Living Receiver's mission is to guide the Artifact out of the TU.

This person is usually blessed with some supernatural powers during their time in the TU to help them with their quest. Some of these include increased strength, mind control, the ability to conjure fire and water and telekinesis.

He uses strength to bury the axe into the school water pipe and solid bronze mascot.
He uses fire to burn Jim Cunningham's house down
He floods the school and constructs a time portal from water.
He uses telekinesis to rip the jet engine off the plane to send it through the time portal.

Donnie is not aware of his responsibilities at first though and he doesn't even know he is within a TU. As his journey continues he slowly starts to realise what is going on and what he must do.

Manipulated Dead

Anyone connected to the Living Receiver who dies in the TU becomes Manipulated Dead. These people are very powerful and have the ability to move through time and talk to the Living Receiver through a Fourth Dimensional Construct. They also have some knowledge of the impending disaster and help guide the chosen one.

Frank is killed in the TU and therefore becomes one of the Manipulated Dead. He travels back in time and helps Donnie with his quest to return the Artifact. The first thing he must do is save Donnie by waking him up before he gets squashed by the jet engine. He is like a reverse ghost who appears before he was killed. Gretchen is also Manipulated Dead but she doesn't appear to Donnie in the same way as it might be to confusing for him.

Manipulated Living

Mrs Pomery and Donnie All the people connected to the Living Receiver are the Manipulated Living and these people will subconsciously help guide the Living receiver. They will behave in the exact perfect way necessary to push Donnie toward his eventual destiny. Nearly every event in the film has a specific purpose designed to aid Donnie to save the Universe.

There is a driving force behind the Manipulated's behaviour... although we never find out what it is for sure. God is one of the most popular ideas mooted, the film does use religion at many points. The story uses lots of religious symbols and often points to the idea that you follow God's channel to decide your own fate. This guiding force is moving all the Manipulated characters around like pieces on a chessboard, making a sequence of events that will lead to Donnie's success. The Universe is in grave danger and this guiding force has stepped in to help save it.

The Ensurance Trap

Dead Frank The PoTT states that all the Manipulated are trying to lure the Living Receiver into a trap so has no choice but to send the Artifact out of the TU into the PU. The PoTT calls this the Ensurance Trap (old English) . This is effectively the role all the Manipulated play, they are trying to save themselves by guiding Donnie to complete his mission. If Donnie fails they die as well.

Frank tells Donnie to flood the school which in turn leads to Donnie walking Gretchen home and him then asking her to be his girlfriend. This event is not just coincidence; it's specifically put in place as part of the trap.

Gretchen plays a crucial role in the trap, remember Donnie only meets and falls in love with her within the TU. He is given someone to love then she dies. He's so upset at Frank for killing Gretchen he shoots him dead. This has now created Manipulated Dead Frank, the person guiding him to do these things. He must create Manipulated Dead Frank in order to be saved himself in the beginning.

The manipulated have now successfully set the trap. Donnie was saved from death and is now in a desperate situation. His girlfriend is dead and he's a killer on the run. He knows what his purpose is now and only has one way out even though it will ultimately end his own life. Sending the engine through a portal will erase the last 28 days from history and time will return to October 2nd... back to when Gretchen was still alive.

The End of the Film

At the end of the film we see a vortex appear over Donnie's house. It's the beginning of the TU collapse and is centred over where it began. Donnie is aware of what he must do now so he drives up the mountain for a better vantage point. The plane with the same jet engine has been manipulated to fly overhead at this exact time. Donnie rips the engine off using telekinesis, constructs a time portal from water and guides the engine through it.

We now see parts of the last 28 days rewinding as the TU starts to unravel. The TU has collapsed safely and the PU that was on pause starts back up from when it stopped. We are now back in reality on October 2nd, the last 28 days never happened. Donnie wakes up in his bed laughing after dreaming some of the events within the TU. He then goes back to sleep seemingly content with life now. The experience has seemingly brought him closer to God and he is no longer afraid to die. The jet engine Donnie sent through the time portal now falls into his bedroom killing him.

Dreams

Gretchen Waving Even though the last 28 days never actually happened some of the Manipulated will be haunted in their dreams by their experiences within the TU.

There are bits of evidence to prove this. Frank touching his eye in the final montage and Gretchen waving to Donnie's mum proves that some of the characters have some knowledge of what happened within the lost world.

We see Jim Cunningham crying in the montage as he wakes up... clearly disgusted with himself. Ten days later he clears out his child pornography dungeon and shoots himself on the 14th hole of the golf course... his dirty secret is never revealed.

Final Remarks

Many people assume Donnie has to die otherwise the TU would start over again. From a scientific point of view Donnie's death is not relevant at all , the corruption is already fixed before he dies and if he got up and avoided death then nothing would change. The PoTT tells us of previous Receiver's who died after the Artifact was returned but we only hear about them because their death defies logic. Any Receiver's who escaped death would go completely unnoticed.

It's almost certain Roberta Sparrow was a Living Receiver in a previous TU and that is how she came to write the PoTT. She survived her experience proving that the Receiver doesn't always have to die.

This film does blend science and religion together so his death may emphasise him as a saviour and his belief in God. In death Donnie's role as the Living Receiver seems even greater than before.

Other common questions concern the Artifact Donnie sends through the portal at the end of the movie. Many people ask why the PU is not in danger now it has a duplicate object with it. It seems to be the case that the issue of duplicate objects is only a concern once the Universe they're within starts going through the collapsing process. The PU is a stable linear time-line that never goes through a collapsing process so is therefore never in any danger from duplicate objects.

As stated above the Arrtifact is not the cause of the TU, it's just a by-product of it. This is why there is no danger of another TU starting up once Donnie sends his Artifact through the portal at the end of the movie.

You can read more about some of the contentious parts of the movie by clicking here
You can compare with some of the alternative explanations by clicking here

Heinrich

November 24th 2011 | 3:18:01

I just finished watching this movie and more or less understood it as explained in the article.
It was a good entertainment that led me to the Internet to read what others had to say.
The concept of time travel was treated better than I have ever seen it done before.
As for the dogma about a different artifact posing a threat to the PU, this does not hold up logically.

Mista

November 24th 2011 | 2:01:02

Its just a film people not reality! Some guys on here take it way too seriously. Theirs bigger things to worry about than debating about fictional films. Like for example poverty & hunger. Do something productive!! Wake up & see the reality of this world & whats going on besides talking about parallel universes you cant even comprehend to understand!!

One love. Peace.

Homo

November 24th 2011 | 1:22:52

I love broke bak mountin, i love God and J.C

Alex

November 23rd 2011 | 5:37:38

@ GODSON

You are one of the most fine examples of why I never wish to be a christian.

donnie

November 21st 2011 | 3:38:28

fuck you all

Confused

November 17th 2011 | 12:24:17

I agree with the query about the engine not being the same one from the beginning!?! It surely is as it travels back in time. I also missed the bit where Donny actually travels back with it, and does this mean that if you travel back in time do you replace your other being already there? Was this not the origional Donny lying in bed gettin premonitions of some sort and deciding to stay? If not there would be two Donnys in the origional time zone. Also didn't see PS's character killing himself!

I love teeth

November 14th 2011 | 2:57:11

I'm confused about the suicide of Jim Cunningham referenced at the end of this article/explanation. Was that something I missed in the film? All other parts of this concise essay seem to be based on events that took place in the film, but I don't remember any reference to a disgusted Jim Cunningham offing himself.

Did I miss it?

I love teeth

November 14th 2011 | 2:57:08

Lima Sierra

November 10th 2011 | 15:45:47

Godson, I am a Christian as well, i do not believe the intent of the movie is to question God, or manipulate his being. This movie is for entertainment purposes only, a psychological thriller. Its intent purpose is to make you think through the movie to figure it out. By you posting comments on this wall, you are not helping what you believe. Go out and do something to SHOW people what you believe, stop trying to convert people through fear. It will not work.

Godson Shut Up

November 9th 2011 | 7:44:55

Take your crazy beliefs and please get off the internet.

Bess

November 9th 2011 | 4:40:55

Where does the first jet engine come from?

If not the same one donnie sent back originally, then why does it happen in the exact same way (to the exact second, location, provoking same reaction etc) and look exactly the same? If it was a different one, but was transported to the exact same time, wouldn't that result in two jet engines falling at once? And if it was sent into the PU as opposed to the TU, how can this be the case when the TA had apparently aleady started by that point in time?

And, even if that was the case, why does sending back a jet engine prevent the ending of the universe in the first place? The artifact is an act of god? And donnie being the living receiver is an act of god? But donnie's task is to get rid of the artifact to prevent the black hole being caused by the duplicate object. Why? Why would god just not include an artifact and therefore not bother with Donnie's task at all, letting the TA unravel safely by itself?

And if duplicate obects is what makes the TA so dangerous, then why is that any different for the PA once it has an extra jet engine instead?

So many questions. Answers please!

Godson

November 6th 2011 | 22:08:14

This is all rubbish........the film......the idea behind it.....everything about it tends to make a mockery of God......its blasphemous. The creator of this film should repent and pray for God's forgiveness. Nothing in this film is scriptural. It tends to undermine God's purpose for creating us and the divine plan He has for us if we follow Him.

Our main concern in this end-time should be to strengthen our relationship with God with His Word that we may make Heaven, instead of waste our time about some psychological rubbish about tangent universe and time travel rubbish cooked up by some psycho philosophers to deceive people and prevent them from believing in God and worshiping Him.

REPENT!!! For God's Kingdom is at hand.

Godson

November 6th 2011 | 21:25:11

Godson

November 6th 2011 | 21:24:04

Artificer

November 6th 2011 | 5:27:36

Not sure if this helps for those that can't understand the outline of it, or if this is spot on what Dan says but:

1. PU has the instance of TU.

2. PU and TU are two separate realities. Anything that is done unto the TU does not affect the PU. In other words, because one thing happens in one, it doesn't mean it happens in the other; like a mirror image moving with the person. They are entirely separate of themselves, and only through that vortex was there any sort of link.

3. In the event of a TU, PU becomes frozen in time, i.e., nothing happens in the PU. Time assigned itself to the TU.

-----

[My approaches and attempts to resolve any other questions]

Main Approach:
Target: The Philosophy of Time Travel

1. There would be more than two universes in order for MDF to appear in the way that he did, which would create an infinite loop of contradictions due to each universe requiring an MDF's existence (not for the resolving of the TU, but for MDF's existence to begin with). MDF stopped TU Donnie from being killed by the TU's Artifact (specifically, the jet engine), and in order for that to have happened, Frank would have had to have been killed in a different reality. Because PU is timeless at the instance, and the TU cannot have a universe within itself, there must have been a third universe, and another to that, and another to that, thus creating a clear contradiction. In these instances, there cannot be loops, it must stop somewhere in order for anything else to resolve. Therefore:

1a. Nothing happened, and all of this is junk.
1b. The loop exists, and nothing ever resolves.
1c. TU never existed, and in "PU", Donnie just dies in a lucid dream (happens quite often while on psych meds, which would also explain if he ever sleep-walked).
1d. Maybe something else, but I can probably keep on going.

-----

Theological Approach:
Target: God

Whatever God you want to believe in does exist. This is His test unto Donnie. Donnie is given the choice of what should happen. God saves Donnie from the Artifact by proposing the image of MDF, thus causing TU Donnie to move. All events happen, and PU Donnie dies, while TU Donnie watches his universe collapse.

This all, however, presents many problems to begin with:

Given: God is omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, omnibenevolent, and omniwhateverthehellelseyouwanttosay.

1. God is not omniscient, because he does not know what TU Donnie will do.
2. God is not omnibenevolent because he allowed the death of Frank, and Gretchen for some game of chance, and the erasure of an entire existence, which would imply the question "Why was an alternate universe needed to begin with?".
3. God is not omnipotent, because he would not have been able to undo their deaths or erasure.
4. Maybe something else, but I don't need to keep going.
5. Because God is none of those things, he can no longer withhold the title of God, and is no longer viable of existence in this supposition of reality.
6. Because God does not exist in this reality, it leaves the explanation to other hands.

-----

Paranormal Approach:
Target: Supernatural powers, and paranormal activity

1. Assuming TU Donnie has quasi-ESP among his other supernatural powers, Manipulated Dead Frank would be his vision. MDF is sort of a reminder from Vision Donnie that he killed in events undisclosed to us. It's like someone contemplating the events, but they forget those were just thoughts, and have an unconscious reminder in the back of their mind (MDF).

1a. In order for MDF to even exist as a vision, TU Donnie must have survived to begin with. This leaves this approach null and void.

2. TU Donnie was visited by a time-travelling ghost, Manipulated Dead Frank, and was moved to those events simply because it refuses to die.

2a. Refer to 1a.

3. There may be more things to say, but regardless, it may all point back to 1a.

4. Donnie has ESP, and was dreaming a vision. Refer to Coincidental Approach.

-----

Coincidental Approach:
Target: Free will, and coincidence

1. The TU was never dependent on predetermined events, and was the exact opposite of the PU, hence the supernatural powers, the anomaly of TU's existence to begin with, the TU's possibility for collapse along with existence's possibility for destruction through the Black Hole. This is all free will, and MDF was just a nightmarish hallucination that seemed coincidentally similar to Frank's costume. Evidence of this is the drawing on Donnie's poster, which seemed quite different from the actual costume. Donnie woke up, and sleepwalked into survival. This may hold as a viable answer.

1a. Around the beginning, Donnie seems to pass by Frank in his red car. He could subconsciously remember Frank's face, and for some reason, apply it to the not-so-similar bunny costume, along with having one eye punched in with a bullet.

2. Schizophrenia allowed for events similar to 1.

3. Practically anything you want to say. E.g., a fly with a virus exclusive only to the TU bit Donnie in the head, and caused the hallucinations, caused him to get out of his house; refer to 1.

4. Donnie is dreaming all of this after seeing Frank. Because it's all just a dream, the theory of time-travel may not be 100% viable.

4a. This could lead to Donnie physically killing Frank due to schizophrenic episodes, and ending with Donnie arrested, but unaware of it.

4b. This could also lead to the TU being real, and still, Donnie dreams of Frank, wakes up, kills him, and the entire story works out by mere chance. Refer as similar to 3, 2, and 1.

4c. Referring to 4b, it could compose a contradiction for the purpose of every being, such as the Manipulated Dead, and Manipulated Living. All of the contradictions can be based purely on your own opinion; e.g., why Gretchen would be a Manipulated Dead in this supposition, et cetera.

* This is where practically anything is possible, which semi-renders this approach rather useless and open to anything. I highly doubt this is what the creator intended.

-----

Now, obviously, there's probably a bit I've missed, but my intents were to clarify anything, and then push in some of my suggestions.

Paris

November 2nd 2011 | 7:52:44

Excellent summery adn explanation. Well done.

KSicsFaces

November 1st 2011 | 6:10:21

Okay I fully understand the first part of my question. Still a little confused about the TU. When the TU is randomly created, does everyone from the PU get pulled into the TU? Or did the TU make copies of the people in the PU? When the TU is created, does the PU still continue to move forward? If so, how does that work? This is a fundamental problem im having with fully understand the movie.

JamesC83H

November 1st 2011 | 2:20:39

Hi Dan,

Wiley's question;

"Frank woke Donnie up to prevent him from being crushed by the falling jet engine, yes? But given that the reason the jet engine fell into Donnies room in the first place was that he used telekinesis in the future to break it off and send it through the time portal to prevent the tangent universe from collapsing, but since he had to move from where it fell does it not mean that because it was falling it had already been sent through the time portal preventing the tangent universe from collapsing?"

I was wondering this too, is the only reason the jet engine fell not because Donnie used telekinesis in the future to make it break off? So why was he woken to prevent him being killed by it falling if he had not yet done it?

Dan

October 31st 2011 | 20:26:55

@ KSicsFaces

The way to look at is the TU is a copy of the PU at an exact point, in this case Midnight Oct 2nd... like a photograph of time transferred into a new Universe.

At exactly Midnight Oct 2nd there is no duplicate jet engine, it doesn't arrive until a short time afterwards. Therefore the TU doesn't match the PU from that exact moment.

Everybody in the TU is real but they are acting slightly against their will. You are right though in theory that nobody in the TU really matters, that time-line will always be erased from history at some point.

Frank is actually guiding Donnie to kill him. He knows he can do this as this will save the real Frank in the PU.

KSicsFaces

October 31st 2011 | 18:55:27

Hey Dan, you kinda skipped over my question. I'll try again..

" Dan, you said : The PU is a stable permanent linear time-line that can cope with the extra duplicate object. The TU is unstable and will always collapse at some point.

But my problem is, if there is a extra duplicate object in the PU, that still means that the PU and TU don't match as there is one more object in the PU now. So wouldn't the TU still collapse creating a black hole that would destroy both PU and TU?

Also, I'm confused. Is anyone in the TU real? If its a copy of the PU that will eventually collapse, does it mean no one in that TU matters? Im confused if DD in the PU and the TU are the same people. How does the time line work?

1:

Pu ---------------------v
TU (Nothing/Nothing) >-----------------V
PU (Nothing/Nothing)v------------------------------------->

2:

Pu -------------v----------------v
TU (Nothing..)v-----------------v
PU (NothingNothingNothing.)?-------------------------------------> "

Sorry if the diagram is hard to understand >.< LOL

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