"Where is Donnie?" This is only one of a myriad of mind-bending questions you will ask yourself after watching the brilliantly haunting film, Donnie Darko.

To call it science fiction would be an overstatement. To call it a horror, drama or comedy would be erroneous as well. Donnie Darko sits in a genre unto itself, spawned from the innovative mind of newcomer writer/ director Richard Kelly.

Set in 1980's Virginia, the film tells the tale of the title character and the weird events that begin to unfold in his life after a jet engine mysteriously falls from the sky and lands on his house. Donnie avoids a terrible death, thanks to a sleepwalking trance in which he converses with a 6-foot rabbit named Frank, who talks of the end of the world -- and that's all in the first 15 minutes. Confused yet? Good, because it doesn't get much clearer than that -- just better.

The wonderful thing about Donnie Darko is that every scene is coherent in itself, but as a whole, the film leaves the viewer to truly ponder what it all builds up to. Repeated viewing will give another tiny glimpse or clue as to what it all means, but for each and every answer there is always another question.

Another of the film's highlights is the original score composed by Michael Andrews, which adds a perfect layer of creepy yet soothing tones to the film. As Donnie pieces together the supernatural puzzle in his life, Andrew's eerie piano and synthesizer score is always there to remind us that things are not quite what they seem.

The title character is portrayed by up-and-coming thespian Jake Gyllenhaal, whose role as brooding and bewildered Donnie cements his place as one of Hollywood's next generation of high quality actors.

The film's supporting cast will surprise many as well, including such actors as Drew Barrymore, Noah Wyle and Patrick Swayze as a sleazy motivational speaker. Each character's relevance to Donnie and his mission is unclear early in the film but lead him to a climax of metaphysical proportions that literally affects the fabric of the universe.

For those who want to try to understand the film better, there are three options: go to www.donniedarko.com and solve obscure riddles for answers, listen to the director's commentary on the DVD, or best of all, just don't try at all.

The film's puzzles and intricacies are enjoyable to ponder and solving them on your own is far more rewarding than being told them.

Instead of keeping you guessing till the very end, Donnie Darko keeps your brain churning far past the film's conclusion, giving much more entertainment value than its two-hour runtime. Rent it today and find out: "Where is Donnie?"