Though it only showed in 58 theaters across the United States during its opening week, Donnie Darko has become a cult classic for horror fans around the country.
Donnie Darko was released in theaters in the United States on Oct. 26 2001, though it was shown at the Sundance Film Festival in Jan. of that same year. During its opening weekend, it only made around $500,000, which wasn’t the best for the movie because it started with a $4.5 million budget. Though the worldwide box office was $7.5 million. Now, the film has over $10 million in DVD sales.
Donnie Darko was filmed in 28 days in October, which coincidentally lined up with the 28-day timeline of the film, which starts on Oct. 2 and ends 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds later, on the 31st.
Donnie Darko has become a cult classic for fans of the new wave genre, as well as horror fans in general. All the music in the film was done by Michael Andrews, who is an American Musician and composer for films. Some of the music in Donnie Darko include Mad World cover by Gary Jules, The Killing Moon by Echo & and the Bunnymen, Head Over Heels by Tears for Fears, Never Tear Us Apart by INXS, Stay by Oingo Boingo and Notorious by Duran Duran. While the film had a creepy feel the music also reflected that with its mix of gothic and new wave music.
This film doesn’t just have a good soundtrack but it also has an extremely talented cast. Donnie Darko is played by a 19 year old Jake Gyllenhaal, with his sister Maggie Gyllenhaal playing his sister in the film, Elizabeth Darko. More stars of the movie include Drew Berrymore as Karen Pomeroy, Patrick Swayze as Jim Cunningham, Seth Rogan as Ricky Danforth and Jena Malone as Gretchen Ross.
The film has a very dreamlike horror feel to it, with Donnie Darko seeing the rabbit Frank everywhere he goes and being told to do bad things, when watching the film it is hard to know what is real and what is not. It also has an interesting blend of Philosophy, quantum physics and time travel. Many fans enjoy the film because of its mysterious ending, we aren’t told what exactly happens. The cinematography also helps give the film a creepier feel, with wide shots that hold a little too long, ramping, and great lighting that adds to the film’s overall creepy vibe.
