Donnie Darko, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone and Patrick Swayze is an edgy,complex, psychological thriller about a suburban American teen dealing with the pressures of modern life and psychosis inducing anti-depressants. As well as being a masterpiece of modern cinema, Donnie Darko is also an excellent example of modern tragedy, as defined by Northrop Frye's Modal theory. <Tab/>Firstly, the movie takes place in the month of October, a subtle (…showed first 75 words of 484 total…

…showed last 75 words of 484 total…to the plane that will later cause his death, and cause him to lose his battle against his destiny as prophesized by Frank. <Tab/>The ambiguity and complexity of Donnie Darko makes it difficult to place in any single genre or mode, however it is definitely based around the generally accepted definitions of tragedy, by questioning things such the nature of human suffering and the meaning of life and the universe.