Donnie Darko | Richard Kelly's mind-bending cult classic gets a 15th anniversary 4K restoration

Donnie Darko quad

At the age of 26, writer-director Richard Kelly created an instant cult classic with his 2001 debut film Donnie Darko, a decidedly weird time-travel drama that puzzled viewers so much that many went back to see it again and again…

… and still came away scratching their heads over Kelly’s bizarre tale of a disturbed suburban teenager - played by a young Jake Gyllenhaal - who has a visionary encounter with a giant rabbit named Frank who tells him that the world will end in 28 days, six hours, 42 minutes and 12 seconds.

Donnie Darko, Jake Gyllenhaal,

Most filmmakers have to acquire the status of legends and wait years if not decades before they are granted the privilege of a director’s cut. Young whippersnapper Kelly was given the opportunity only two years after his movie’s original cinema release.

Now, Arrow Films is celebrating the 15th Anniversary of Donnie Darko by re-releasing Kelly's Director’s Cut as well as the original Cult Classic Theatrical version - both with a special 4K restoration supervised by Kelly himself.

The original theatrical version is currently enjoying a run at the BFI, which will be followed by a nationwide release from the 23rd December 2016. Arrow Films is releasing a limited edition dual format Blu-ray & DVD box set containing the Theatrical Cut and Director's Cut.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyEHom3YMss

Jason Best

A film critic for over 25 years, Jason admits the job can occasionally be glamorous – sitting on a film festival jury in Portugal; hanging out with Baz Luhrmann at the Chateau Marmont; chatting with Sigourney Weaver about The Archers – but he mostly spends his time in darkened rooms watching films. He’s also written theatre and opera reviews, two guide books on Rome, and competed in a race for Yachting World, whose great wheeze it was to send a seasick film critic to write about his time on the ocean waves. But Jason is happiest on dry land with a classic screwball comedy or Hitchcock thriller.