One of the best films I have seen in the past decade is now ten years old and is once again available on Blu-ray.. I will admit the first time I saw the DVD box cover for Donnie Darko I thought it was going to be just another sub-par horror film that was going to be forgotten. Sure, I saw the lineup of veteran actor’s names on the box cover. I had no clue who Jake Gyllenhaal was and Jena Malone was just becoming a known actress at the time. I thought this was going to be a horror film. What I got was more than just a film with some horror and science fiction elements. What I got was one of the best films I’ve ever seen. In 2001, I think I watched this film about twenty times as I traveled with the DVD I bought at Best-Buy to all of my friends home so they could experience this masterpiece. In a way you can give me a little credit for helping making it the cult hit it is today. It is by word of mouth that Donnie Darko became an instant classic among today’s fans and filmmakers.
If you have been living under a rock for the past ten years or were not old enough to see this film when it first came out, then let me kind of give you an idea of what Donnie Darko is about. However, let me make this clear. In order to really appreciate this film you need to watch it about several times to really understand the whole story. Why you may ask? Because there is a lot going on.
Donnie Darko is your high school slacker/wise ass that does not care for anyone but himself. His family is like every other upper middle class family where they are active in the community and tend to act fake like the rest of the community does. Donnie sees right though them all and plans on exposing them for who they really are. However, on one fateful night a jet engines falls from the sky and crashes though the Darko household and goes right though the roof above where Donnie’s room is. Luckily for Donnie he sleepwalks and was down the block. Donnie has visions of a bunny named Frank that tells him to do bad things whiles he is in this state of hypnosis. After the accident occurs, things begin to get worse, but with therapy Donnie learns to control his disorder and begins to unlock hidden secrets. One such vision is Frank telling him that the world will end in 28 days.
Needless to say, the story is really hard to describe in writing. It is one of those films you just have to watch for yourself and try to get out of it what you can. I’m not going to spend all day telling you how great this movie is and how original and powerful it is. You are just going to have to view it and decide for yourself. I for one love this film and it is on my top ten list of best films ever made. So take my advice when I say you’re in for one hell of a cinematic experience.
The 10th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Combo pack comes with the film on Blu-ray, DVD and a digital copy. There are four discs in all with a ton of features that are listed below. This is one Blu-ray combo pack that is well worth the purchase, especially if you’re a big fan of the film like I am.
– Horror Bob
Disc 1: Blu-ray
* * Theatrical Version
* * Directors Cut Version
* * Special Features:
* Theatrical: Commentary with Writer/Director Richard Kelly and Jake Gyllenhaal
* Theatrical:Commentary with Cast and Crew
* Directors Cut: Commentary with Writer Director Richard Kelly and Director Kevin Smith
Disc 2: Blu-ray
* * Donnie Darko Production Diary (with optional commentary by Director of Photography Steven Poster)
* * “They Made Me Do It Too” – The Cult of Donnie Darko
* * Storyboard-to-Screen Featurette
* * #1 Fan: A Darkomentary
* * Director’s Cut Theatrical Trailer
Disc 3: DVD
* Full-length audio commentary by Writer/Director Richard Kelly and Jake Gyllenhaal
* Additional cast and crew commentary
* IFC “Anatomy of a Scene” featurette
* Deleted scenes
* Behind-the-scenes interviews
* Website gallery
* Cast and crew bios
* Theatrical trailer and TV spots
Disc 4: Digital Copy
Audio: English: 5.1 Dolby Surround / French: Dolby Surround
Language: Dubbed: English & French / Subtitled: English & Spanish
Theatrical Aspect Ratio: Widescreen: 2.35:1
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
