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Donnie Darko

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Donnie Darko
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRichard Kelly
Written byRichard Kelly
Produced byAdam Fields
Nancy Juvonen
Sean McKittrick
Drew Barrymore
StarringJake Gyllenhaal
Jena Malone
Drew Barrymore
Mary McDonnell
Katharine Ross
Patrick Swayze
Noah Wyle
CinematographySteven B. Poster
Edited bySam Bauer
Eric Strand
Music byMichael Andrews
Production
company
Distributed byNewmarket Films
Release date
  • October 26, 2001 (2001-10-26)
Running time
113 minutes
CountryTemplate:Film US
LanguageEnglish
Budget$4.5 million[1]
Box office$4,116,307[2]

Donnie Darko is a 2001 American science fiction psychological thriller film written and directed by Richard Kelly and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Patrick Swayze, Noah Wyle, Jena Malone, and Mary McDonnell. The film depicts the reality-bending adventures of the title character as he seeks the meaning and significance behind his troubling Doomsday-related visions.

Budgeted with $4.5 million[1] and filmed over the course of 28 days, the film missed breaking even at the box office, grossing just over $4.1 million worldwide.[2] Since then, the film has received favorable reviews from critics and has developed a large cult following,[3] resulting in the release of a director's cut on a two-disc, special edition release in 2004.[4]

Plot

In 1988, teenager Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal) has been seeing a psychiatrist because of his troubled history. On October 2, Frank (James Duval), a menacing, demonic-looking rabbit with an eerie, hypnotic voice, draws Donnie out of his room to tell him that in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds, the world will end. While Donnie is outside, an airplane jet engine crashes through his bedroom. The next morning, Dr. Fisher (Arthur Taxier) and Jim Cunningham (Patrick Swayze), a motivational speaker, find Donnie sleeping on a golf course. Donnie returns home to find police and firemen there. No one knows where the engine has come from and no airplanes were reported as flying in the vicinity.

The following day, Donnie meets Gretchen Ross (Jena Malone), a new student who becomes Donnie's love interest. While driving Donnie to his therapy session with Dr. Lillian Thurman (Katharine Ross), his father, Eddie (Holmes Osborne), nearly runs over Roberta Sparrow (Patience Cleveland), a seemingly senile old woman known as "Grandma Death." Dr. Thurman increases Donnie's medication and begins hypnotherapy. Frank continues to appear, and manipulates Donnie into committing a series of crimes. Frank also tells Donnie about time travel while he is watching a film at the theater with Gretchen. Donnie floods the school, steals his father's gun, and burns the home of Cunningham, where firemen uncover a "kiddie porn dungeon".

Donnie and his older sister Elizabeth (Maggie Gyllenhaal) throw a Halloween party to celebrate the news of her admission to Harvard while their father is away in New York and their mother, Rose (Mary McDonnell), and younger sister Sam (Daveigh Chase), are away at a dance competition. Gretchen comes to Donnie's house in tears for safety because her mother has suddenly disappeared, likely because of her threatening stepfather, and it is implied she and Donnie have sex for the first time at the party. At midnight, Donnie realizes 28 days have passed and only 6 hours remain until the end of the world. Donnie visits "Grandma Death" along with Gretchen and two friends. They are assaulted by the high school bullies (Alex Greenwald and Seth Rogen) and Gretchen is knocked unconscious. A car swerves to avoid "Grandma Death", but runs over Gretchen, killing her. As the bullies run off, a man wearing a rabbit costume emerges from the car, realizing what has happened. It is Frank. Frank yells at Donnie, who shoots Frank in the eye with his father's stolen pistol. Donnie carries Gretchen's lifeless body home, places her in the family car, and speeds away. For once, Donnie, now smiling, seems at peace as a vortex engulfs the jet carrying his mother and sister. Just as the storm causes an engine to fall off, Donnie transports it back in time – 28 days earlier – using a wormhole.

In the revised timeline, Donnie chooses to stay in bed. He laughs and turns over as if to sleep just as the jet engine crashes through his bedroom, killing him. As his body is taken away the next morning, Gretchen passes by on her bike and is informed by a neighborhood boy about what has happened. Gretchen tells him that she did not know Donnie, and she gives a sympathetic wave to Rose.

Cast

See also: List of Donnie Darko characters

Production

Filming

Donnie Darko was filmed in 28 days on a budget of $4.5 million.[1] It almost went straight to home video release but was publicly released by Drew Barrymore's production company, Flower Films.[5]

The film was shot in California, with many of the school sequences shot at Loyola High School. The "Carpathian ridge" scenes were shot on the Angeles Crest Highway.[6]

Music

Main article: Donnie Darko (soundtrack)

In 2003, the piano-driven cover of the Tears for Fears' "Mad World", featured in the film as part of the end sequence was a hit for composer Michael Andrews and singer Gary Jules and a UK Christmas Number One.[7]

One continuous sequence involving an introduction of Donnie's high school prominently features the song "Head over Heels" by Tears for Fears, Samantha's dance group, "Sparkle Motion", performs with the song "Notorious" by Duran Duran, and "Under the Milky Way" by The Church is played after Donnie and Gretchen emerge from his room during the party. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" by Joy Division also appears in the film diegetically during the party and shots of Donnie and Gretchen upstairs. However, the version included was released in 1995, although the film is set in 1988. The opening sequence is set to "The Killing Moon" by Echo & the Bunnymen. In the theatrical cut, the song playing during the Halloween party is "Proud to be Loud" by Pantera, a track released on their 1988 album, which would coincide with the time setting of the film. However, the band is credited as "The Dead Green Mummies".

In the re-released Director's cut version of the film, the music in the opening sequence is replaced by "Never Tear Us Apart" by INXS; "Under the Milky Way" is moved to the scene of Donnie and Eddie driving home from Donnie's meeting with his therapist; and "The Killing Moon" is played as Gretchen and Donnie return to the party from Donnie's parents' room.

Release

The limited release of the film occurred during the month after the September 11 attacks. It was subsequently held back for almost a year for international release.

Marketing

  • The Donnie Darko Book, written by Richard Kelly, is a 2003 book about the film. It includes an introduction by Jake Gyllenhaal, the screenplay of the Donnie Darko Director's Cut, an in-depth interview with Kelly, facsimile pages from the Philosophy of Time Travel, photos and drawings from the film, and artwork it inspired.
  • NECA released first a six-inch (15 cm) figure of Frank the Bunny and later a foot-tall (30 cm) 'talking' version of the same figure.

Home media

The film was originally released on VHS and DVD in March 2002. Strong DVD sales led Newmarket Films to release a "Director's Cut" on DVD in 2004. Bob Berney, President of Newmarket Films, described the film as "a runaway hit on DVD," citing United States sales of more than $10 million.

The film was released in the US on Blu-ray on February 10, 2009.

The film was released as a 2-disc Blu-ray special edition in the UK on July 19, 2010 by Metrodome Distribution and featuring both Original and Director's Cut. Also including commentaries from director Kelly and actor Gyllenhaal, Kelly and Kevin Smith, and Cast and Crew including Drew Barrymore.

Director's cut

The Director's cut of the film was released on May 29, 2004, in Seattle, Washington, at the Seattle International Film Festival and later in New York City and Los Angeles on July 23, 2004. This cut includes twenty minutes of extra footage, an altered soundtrack, and visual excerpts from the (nonexistent) book The Philosophy of Time Travel.

The director's cut DVD was released on February 15, 2005 in single- and double-disc versions, the latter being available in a standard DVD case or in a limited edition that also featured a lenticular slipcase, whose central image alternates between Donnie and Frank depending on the viewing angle. Most additional features are exclusive to the two-DVD set: the director's commentary assisted by Kevin Smith, excerpts from the storyboard, a 52-minute production diary, "#1 fan video", a "cult following" video interviewing English fans, and the new director's cut trailer.

The single-DVD edition was also released as a giveaway with copies of the British Sunday Times newspaper on February 19, 2006.

Reception

Box office performance

Donnie Darko had its first screening at the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2001, and debuted in United States theaters in October 2001 to a tepid response. Shown on only 58 screens nationwide, the film grossed $110,494 in its opening weekend.[8] This may likely have been the result of the movie containing major scenes involving a plane falling out of the sky, and thus coinciding with the Sept 11th terrorist attacks, many distributors and theaters may have been unwilling to house the film at that time.[9] By the time the film closed in United States theaters on April 11, 2002, it had earned just $517,375.[2][8] It ultimately grossed $4.1 million worldwide.[2]

Despite its poor box office showing, the film began to attract a devoted fan base. It was originally released on VHS and DVD in March 2002. During this time, the Pioneer Theatre in New York City's East Village began midnight screenings of Donnie Darko that continued for 28 consecutive months.[7]

Critical reception

The film received widespread critical acclaim—Rotten Tomatoes gave the film an 85% rating (the Director's Cut received 91%),[4] while Metacritic gave it 88/100.[10] Critic Andy Bailey billed Donnie Darko as a "Sundance surprise" that "isn't spoiled by the Hollywood forces that helped birth it." Andrew Johnston (critic), writing in Us Weekly, cited it as one of the outstanding films at Sundance in 2001, describing it as "a heady blend of science fiction, spirituality, and teen angst."[11] Jean Oppenheimer of New Times (LA) praised the film, saying, "Like gathering storm clouds, Donnie Darko creates an atmosphere of eerie calm and mounting menace – [and] stands as one of the most exceptional movies of 2001."[12] Writing for ABC Australia, Megan Spencer called the movie, "menacing, dreamy, [and] exciting" and noted that "it could take you to a deeply emotional place lying dormant in your soul."[13] At first when the movie was released, Roger Ebert gave the film a less than positive review but later gave a positive review of the director's cut.[14]

Awards and nominations

  • 2001 — Richard Kelly won with Donnie Darko for "Best Screenplay" at the Sitges film festival and at the San Diego Film Critics Society. Donnie Darko also won the "Audience Award" for Best Feature at the Sweden Fantastic Film Festival. The film was nominated for "Best Film" at the Catalonian International Film Festival and for the "Grand Jury Prize" at the Sundance Film Festival.
  • 2002 — Donnie Darko won the "Special Award" at the Young Filmmakers Showcase at the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. The movie also won the "Silver Scream Award" at the Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival. Kelly was nominated for "Best First Feature" and "Best First Screenplay" with Donnie Darko, as well as Jake Gyllenhaal being nominated for "Best Male Lead," at the Independent Spirit Awards. The film was also nominated for the "Best Breakthrough Film" at the Online Film Critics Society Awards.
  • 2003 — Jake Gyllenhaal won "Best Actor" and Richard Kelly "Best Original Screenplay" for Donnie Darko at the Chlotrudis Awards, where Kelly was also nominated for "Best Director" and "Best Movie".
  • 2005 — Donnie Darko ranked in the top five on My Favourite Film, an Australian poll conducted by the ABC.[15]
  • 2006 — Donnie Darko ranks #9 in FilmFour's 50 Films to See Before You Die.[16]
Other awards

Sequel

Main article: S. Darko

A 2009 sequel, S. Darko, centers on Sam, Donnie's younger sister. Sam begins to have strange dreams that hint at a major catastrophe. Donnie Darko creator Richard Kelly has stated that he has no involvement in this sequel, as he does not own the rights to the original.[17] Chase and producer Adam Fields are the only creative links between it and the original film. The sequel received extremely negative reviews.[18][19]

Adaptations

Marcus Stern, associate director of the American Repertory Theater, directed a stage adaptation of Donnie Darko at the Zero Arrow Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the fall of 2007. It ran from October 27 until November 18, 2007, with opening night fittingly scheduled near Halloween.

An article written by the production drama team stated that the director and production team planned to "embrace the challenge to make the fantastical elements come alive on stage."[20] In 2004, Stern adapted and directed Kelly's screenplay for a graduate student production at the American Repertory Theatre's Institute for Advanced Theatre Training (I.A.T.T./M.X.A.T.).

References

  1. ^ a b c Richard Kelly (director) (2004). Donnie Darko: The Director's Cut (DVD).
  2. ^ a b c d "Donnie Darko". The Numbers. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  3. ^ The AV Club – "The New Cult Canon: Donnie Darko"
  4. ^ a b "Donnie Darko film review". Rotten Tomatoes. IGN.com. 2001. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
  5. ^ Snider, Mike (2005-02-14). "'Darko' takes a long, strange trip". USA Today. Retrieved 2005-02-14.
  6. ^ Poster, Steven (Cinematographer) (2004). Donnie Darko Production Diary (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
  7. ^ a b "Donnie Darko". Indie Wire. Archived from the original on 2006-05-12. Retrieved 2006-05-17.
  8. ^ a b "Donnie Darko (2001)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
  9. ^ DVD REVIEW: 'DONNIE DARKO: 2 DISC ULTIMATE EDITION' (BLU-RAY RE-RELEASE)
  10. ^ http://www.metacritic.com/movie/donnie-darko
  11. ^ Us Weekly, 2/21/2001, p. 36.
  12. ^ "Donnie Darko". Indie Wire. Archived from the original on 2005-12-14. Retrieved 2006-05-17.
  13. ^ Review of Donnie Darko, by Megan Spencer, for ABC Australia.
  14. ^ "Donnie Darko: The Director's Cut". Rogerebert.com. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
  15. ^ "My Favourite Film". ABC. Retrieved 2006-07-11.
  16. ^ "C4 relaunches Film4 with '50 films to see before you die' list countdown". Brand Republic. Retrieved 2006-09-16.
  17. ^ "IGN Article". IGN. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
  18. ^ "S. Darko review". A.V. Club. 2009-05-13. Retrieved 2009-05-13.
  19. ^ "rottentomatoes.com". Retrieved 2010-02-03.
  20. ^ Sarah Wallace (2007-08-07). "Bringing the End of the World to Life". American Repertory Theatre. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help) Archived 2007-10-11 at the Wayback Machine
  • Commentary with Kevin Smith (2003). Donnie Darko Directors Cut. Faber and Faber. ISBN 0-571-22124-6.
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