Analysis Of Donnie Darko's The Killing Moon
The opening scene of Donnie Darko incorporates Michael Andrew’s “The Killing Moon” with peaceful and mystifying shots to introduce the main character, Donnie, as he discovers he slept-biked to the top of a mountain.
The beginning chords showcase simple piano overtones as we see the back of Donnie’s head looking out into a beautiful morning’s sunrise with a gorgeous palette of blues, purples and pinks. The calming music with the complement of a female voice creates a feeling of compassion, purity and sympathy for the viewer.
As Donnie begins to realize the situation he put himself in and stands up to bike home and begin his morning, the female accompaniment begins singing a soft and smooth “ahh” while the light texture of the music’s rhythm
begins to pick up. The soft dynamics make the viewer consider such a dangerous event more amusing and beautiful rather than frightening.
As Donnie begins to ride down the mountain, “The Killing Moon” begins to play. The song starts with a few plucks of various guitar cords and are then continued to create a rhythm. Donnie rides down the mountain to the rhythm of the song and as the drums kick in, he begins to glide down the mountain faster.
The relaxing atmosphere with the melancholy tone in music gives the scene a burst of energy and almost encourages the viewer to find a purpose to achieve in every morning. The strange thing about the lyrics in “The Killing Moon” is that they foreshadow what is to come in Donnie and his family members lives.
Upon my first watch of the scene, I would have never picked up on the tiny clue, but after watching the film in its entirety, I quickly realized the lyrics played in the opening scene matches up with the storyline throughout the film. The music in the opening scene is non-diegetic, but it keeps the scene flowing as the viewer sees the Darko family for the very first time.
All in all, the music helps flow through the film explaining the narrative while creating an emotional response from the viewer. The lyrics from the films soundtrack link together picture and sound so the viewer can have a complete sensory understanding.
The beginning chords showcase simple piano overtones as we see the back of Donnie’s head looking out into a beautiful morning’s sunrise with a gorgeous palette of blues, purples and pinks. The calming music with the complement of a female voice creates a feeling of compassion, purity and sympathy for the viewer.
As Donnie begins to realize the situation he put himself in and stands up to bike home and begin his morning, the female accompaniment begins singing a soft and smooth “ahh” while the light texture of the music’s rhythm
begins to pick up. The soft dynamics make the viewer consider such a dangerous event more amusing and beautiful rather than frightening.
As Donnie begins to ride down the mountain, “The Killing Moon” begins to play. The song starts with a few plucks of various guitar cords and are then continued to create a rhythm. Donnie rides down the mountain to the rhythm of the song and as the drums kick in, he begins to glide down the mountain faster.
The relaxing atmosphere with the melancholy tone in music gives the scene a burst of energy and almost encourages the viewer to find a purpose to achieve in every morning. The strange thing about the lyrics in “The Killing Moon” is that they foreshadow what is to come in Donnie and his family members lives.
Upon my first watch of the scene, I would have never picked up on the tiny clue, but after watching the film in its entirety, I quickly realized the lyrics played in the opening scene matches up with the storyline throughout the film. The music in the opening scene is non-diegetic, but it keeps the scene flowing as the viewer sees the Darko family for the very first time.
All in all, the music helps flow through the film explaining the narrative while creating an emotional response from the viewer. The lyrics from the films soundtrack link together picture and sound so the viewer can have a complete sensory understanding.