ADSactly Cinema: Cult Movies - Donnie Darko
Hello, dear @adsactly readers and cinema lovers!
I must start this post with a confession - I only saw the movie “Donnie Darko” a couple of years ago, long after its 2001 premiere. In my defense, few people did see it at the time of its release, which came at a very unfortunate moment, less than a month after 9/11. Add to this the fact that the movie starts with a plane crash and you will understand why the movie did not get any publicity at the time.
And yet, today Donnie Darko is a cult movie, with an army of loyal fans and excellent ratings. According to many, it is the greatest cult movie in several decades, beating other great movies like “Reservoir Dogs” and “Requiem for a Dream”.
A cult movie is considered a film that goes almost unnoticed at the time of its premiere, makes very little money, but somehow manages to gather a lot of fans, its popularity growing over the years.
Even without 9/11, “Donnie Darko”, an indie production directed by a virtually unknown Richard Kelly, had no chance of being a commercial hit and a blockbuster.
It’s too weird a movie, that dwells on time travel, parallel universes, and, on top of that, features a creepy giant rabbit called Frank.
The plot revolves around the protagonist’s efforts to save the world, after the monstrous rabbit tells him the world will end in 28 days. The film was shot over exactly 28 days to match the script’s timeline.
I’m not going to even try to tell you the whole plot, as it is very complicated, with alternating universes or timelines. The kind of movie that, when the end credits start, lets you dumbstruck, wondering ‘what did I just see?’
The first thing I did after watching the movie was to go online and check if I understood it correctly. Fortunately, there are plenty of websites and forums dedicated to the cult of Donnie Darko, maintained by its passionate fans.
As I was saying, the film had a modest opening and went almost straight to DVD. Its popularity grew mainly by word of mouth, especially among young people. The demand was so great that one American theater scheduled midnight screenings of the film for 28 months and it was never empty, as the fans enjoyed watching it in the company of like-minded people and never got tired of discussing the ever-growing movie-lore.
Years later, when a London cinema decided to show the movie, tickets were sold out overnight.
The film captivates the minds of science-fiction lovers with its tantalizing questions about the possibility of time travel, wormholes and crossing from one universe to another. Some have pointed out the science in the movie is a bit wrong, but fans couldn’t care less about that.
The atmosphere of the movie reminds viewers of a David Lynch film, while the imaginary rabbit appeals to comic book lovers. Speaking of the rabbit, the creepy Frank is now one of the most recognizable images of our modern culture. My own 11 years old son knew about Frank well before we sat down to watch the movie together.
Even more appreciated is the director’s cut version of “Donnie Darko, released three years later to raving reviews and great scores on movie sites.
“I did the director’s cut which is a lot more detailed, and I put a lot more information out there that I created. I kind of just want to let people run with it and think what they want to think. I know a lot more about the blueprints of this universe, and I feel like I’ve built something pretty complicated, but at the same time, I kind of want people to think what they want to think, and they’re welcome to come up with whatever theories they want. I don’t want to discount anyone’s theater, really. I don’t want to tell someone that they’re wrong even if I disagree with them.”
There is also a 2009 sequel, “S.Darko”, but director Richard Kelly was not involved in any way with that film and called upon his fan to ignore it.
There are however hopes that, one day, Kelly will write a real sequel, but it is not clear whether he will be able to do it, as he sold the rights to the “Donnie Darko” franchise soon after the 2001 premiere. Many fans are extremely sad about that sale, which they consider a terrible loss, but it must be said Kelly was only 24 at the time and had no experience with the movie industry.
Another reason to watch this movie, its excellent cast - with a young Jake Gyllenhaal as Donnie Darko, Patrick Swayze, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Drew Barrymore, whose film company also produced the movie. Fans are forever indebted to Drew Barrymore since no ‘real’ production company would have made such a complex movie with an unknown director.
Have you seen “Donnie Darko”? If so, how did you like it?
Post authored by @ladyrebecca.
References: 1.
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Oh I also saw this long after it was released. And I also found it weird. Perhaps I'll look for the director's cut to see if the story becomes a bit clearer.
Yes, I'm planning on watching the director's cut, too.
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I can't remember who made me watch this movie when it came out, but I do remember watching it a couple of times, trying to understand it. This has been one of the most bizarre movies I've seen.
It was the movie that made Jake Gyllenhaal popular.
I had arrived to the US in August 2001, not the best time. I remember people being very sensitive to plane talks, let alone plane crashes.
What I remeber the most about the movie isGyllenhall's character's torment. He did a great job conveying the young man's inability to understand what he was supposed to do and the whole mechanics of a complex universe. I guess every teenager feels as flabergasted as confused in one universe alone.
Not the best time to be in the US... I remember it took a while until things went back to normal.
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Donnie Darko is one of my most favorited cult movies ever.
I rewatch this movie almost every year, and there's always something new to found!
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This one is not on my 'must see every year' list, but I know the feeling!😃
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I must admit, the first time I saw Donnie Darko, I didn't understand her. It seemed very dark to me. I do remember that it was a film that went unglorious, precisely because of the events of September 11, as you well mentioned. I remember that the original poster had Arabic letters like the ones Donnie discovers on his arm. But after 9/11 they were changed. I think that after the time, I must see it again. I'm sure I'll appreciate it. Thanks for your post, @ladyrebecca.
Definitely not the kind of movie you can see only once!😃
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I admit that I haven't seen that film, which is very attractive, according to what you tell us, @ladyrebecca. I think it went unnoticed in Venezuela (or I didn't have the information at the time). I'm sorry I don't know her because I'm not only very fond of science fiction cinema, but especially those films that deal with spatial-temporal ruptures, parallel universes, etc., like Tarkovsky (Solaris), the Wachowski Sisters (The Matrix) or Tom Tykwer (Cloud Atlas) did.
It's very interesting because Donnie Darko seems to mix fantasy, suspense and horror. In general, the majority of the public is not prepared for the reception of films like this one, because their spectatorial competence is very conditioned even conventional and easily understood cinema.
I will try to look for it in DVD. Thank you for your kind post information.
Oh, it went unnoticed pretty much everywhere... The Matrix I've rewatched recently, but Solaris I saw so long ago I don't really remember, thanks for reminding me. Donnie Darko can be easily downloaded if you want to see it.
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Awesome movie. I also love Mad World.
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I'll chevk out Mad World, thanks!
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Hundred times I saw this movie.
I remember the first time I didn't understand anything.
The second time I discovered more and more.
Its real artwork this movie.
A other dimension with the same people...
Only he can change everything. Ok of course he had to die....whats with the fucking rabbit? Is he one of the two who killed jonnys girl? Who knows...
Butterfly effect was also a good one ;)
Hundred times? Wow...very impressive!
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I actually watched it several times, and I loved it. But I liked it even more after an 'expert' explained all the weirdness to me :D I never had the courage to try the sequel, but I know a lot of people who have seen it and they all hated it, so I'll keep ignoring it :D
Why are you wearing that stupid man suit?
You were lucky to have an expert to guide you, I had to read up on forums.
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