Donnie Darko: The Director's Cut

Reviewed by:
Paul Ulane

High school isn't easy. Between the acne, the cliques, and the demonic rabbits, there's hardly any time left to enjoy the wonder years. Such is the plight of Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal), a disturbed teen whose conscience takes the form of a six-foot-tall rabbit that messes with his thoughts until he can no longer distinguish what's real and what's a pep rally. If it sounds confusing, it is, but added scenes in the director's cut help, as do the extras. A commentary track records writer/director Richard Kelly, and his friend Kevin Smith, parsing time travel theories and pointing out additional scenes. The production diary is an all-access pass from location scouting to the final shoot, including footage of Gyllenhaal acting up, Kelly stressing out, and teamsters slacking off. "They Made Me Do It Too" examines the cult Darko sparked in Europe, including obsessed fan interviews, citywide art exhibits, and Kelly's admission that even he doesn't completely understand the film. Unfortunately, there's also "#1 Fan: A Darkomentary," featuring an over-the-top account of one fan's love for the movie made by a geek so pathetic, he wouldn't even have had a chance in our high school social group.

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