DONNIE DARKO

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Drew Barrymore, James Duval, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mary McDonnell and Patrick Swayze
Writer/Director: Richard Kelly
Running Time: 112 mins
Certificate: 15

Out to buy on DVD 19th May

Troubled high school student Donnie Darko (Gyllenhaal) is already showing signs of schizophrenia. A large figure in a bunny-suit called Frank tells him to get out of bed and follow his voice. The last thing he remembers about that night is that Frank tells him the world will end in 28 days, 6 hours and 12 seconds. Awaking the following day on a golf course, Donnie returns home to find a jet engine has fallen from the sky and totally demolished his bedroom.

First time writer/director Richard Kelly invites you into the bizarre world of Donnie Darko. An amalgamation of David Lynch, P.T. Anderson and every last shred of darkness of the teen angst genre, this movie is as big a triumph as it is weird.

Jake Gyllenhaal's performance ignites a cornucopia of emotions in the character, as Donnie swings from one extreme to another. Never knowing which way he is going to turn, from joy to justice and from prank to social statement, adds an element of unpredictability to the role. Gyllenhaal grabs you from the off and drags you into Donnie's world as you watch the events unfold around him not knowing what will come next.

There is also good support from Jena Malone as Gretchen, the new girl who is draw into Donnie's unusual mission, Mary McDonnell as his unaware mother and Patrick Swayze has a self-help guru.

Shot for a lowly sum of $4 million, the movie has a look of a major Hollywood flick, which is all credit to Richard Kelly and producer Drew Barrymore. Assembling such an excellent ensemble cast and keeping the production values so high, is low budget filmmaking at its best. Even the special effects are on par with some movies that cost ten times as much.

The movie has all the elements of a cult classic. The bizarre Sci-fi/High School teen movie plot, attention grabbing performances and a late 1980s setting with a soundtrack to match, all combine to make Donnie Darko one of the most unusual and memorable movie of 2002.

Audio commentary by Richard Kelly and Jake Gyllenhaal
Audio commentary by selected cast & crew including Richard Kelly, Drew Barrymore, Katherine Ross and Jena Malone
20 Deleted & Extended Scenes with optional commentary by Richard Kelly
Interviews with 20 principal cast and crew members
B roll footage
The Philosophy Of Time Travel
Website Gallery
Artwork Gallery
UK Art Exhibition “
They Made Me Do It” – making of the UK art gallery
Cunning Visions gallery
Theatrical trailer & TV Spots
Extensive Cast & Crew Filmographies