20 Haunting Facts About 'Donnie Darko'

20 Haunting Facts About 'Donnie Darko'

Folks, we might have been too harsh towards Donnie Darko. Donnie’s sacrifice makes more sense than we initially thought, the movie itself is not retroactively bad because of director Richard Kelly’s awful later efforts, and Donnie’s psychiatrist did not screw up – she was just a Manipulated Living. We’ve actually begun showing a bit more love to the 2001 movie, and for good reason. Donnie Darko is a damn solid film, and we’d put it right there amongst the classics of quirky teenage angst of the 2000s. Seriously, someday someone will invite us to a first date movie marathon with Ghost World, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, and Donnie Darko (in that order), and we’ll marry that person.

Also, yes, those hyperlinks are switched. This is how we roll, fellas: we just assume readers open them in other tabs, because they’re essential reading. Okay, so, Donnie Darko, yes. Great movie, great soundtrack, not to be confused with Donnie Brasco, had an awesome unofficial sequel in Source Code, yadda yadda yadda. Let’s get to what really matters: a fascinating batch of behind-the-scenes facts and stories and even Easter eggs to satisfy your Donnie Darko-related cravings. But this is also the moment where we’d say something good about the movie’s actual sequel, just as we have criticized the absolutely perfect original. But no, S. Darko just sucked. That being said, there is one specific thing with that movie that at least softened the curse-filled, 15-minute rant that followed the one time we saw it: that Cocteau Twins ending. And we don’t even care about the ending itself, it’s just, you know, Cocteau Twins rocks. Agreed? Awesome. You win Pictofacts.

U.K. Success

CRACKED.COM Donnie Darko The Brits got it right away. The movie premiered in the UK a year after the U.S. release, and was a critical and commercial success. By 2003, Gary Jules' iconic rendition of Mad World reached the top of the UK charts.

Jason Schwartzman

CRACKED.COM V Donnie Darko Jason Schwartzman was this close to being the lead. Schwartzman was very interested, but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. However, his brief involvement gave the project the legitimacy it needed to get made.

Source: The Ringer

Vince Vaughn and Mark Wahlberg

CRACKED.COM C Donnie Darko Vince Vaughn and Mark Wahlberg were considered. Vaughn turned down the part because he was too old, while Wahlberg insisted on giving Donnie a lisp, for some reason.

Source: Wikipedia

Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal

CRACKED.COM Donnie Darko Jake Gyllenhaal brought his sister on board partly to mess with her. The Darko siblings' bickering came from the Gyllenhaal siblings' real-life competitiveness. Jake thought it'd be fun to have Maggie around, all annoyed that he landed a lead role before her.

Source: The Guardian

The Number 28

Donnie Darko The number 28 creepily kept popping up. Donnie has 28 days to fix the cosmic mess - and in a funny coincidence, the moviwas shot in 28 days. Great. Fun fact. Oh, that's not enough? Richard Kelly wrote the script in, yup, 28 days. CRACKED.COM

Source: Wikipedia

Richard Kelly, Writer and Director

Donnie Darko Richard Kelly wouldn't let anyone else direct his movie. Big-name directors were interested, but Kelly was adamant about not relinquishing control of his baby. I think they humored me, he said later. CRACKED.COM

Source: The Ringer

Ferris Bueller

CRACKED.COM Donnie Darko Donnie Darko is Ferris Bueller's neighbor. If Donnie's house resembles Bueller's, that is no coincidence. Both houses are a few blocks from each other in Long Beach, California.

Source: HMV

The Spielberg Tribute

CRACKED.COM Donnie Darko The movie did Stranger Things-style stuff long before Stranger Things. The influence of '80s Steven Spielberg can be felt all over, particularly when Donnie and his gang go full speed on their bikes. And hey, Donnie's teacher was in Е. T.!

Sources: HMV, The Guardian

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