On Limited Edition Dual Format Blu-ray and DVD 12 December 2016
One of the most talked-about films of the last twenty years, Donnie Darko is the film that started a million late-night conversations as well as setting Jake Gyllenhaal on the road to Hollywood stardom. This stunning 4K restoration from Arrow Video, supervised and approved by director Richard Kelly and cinematographer Steven Poster, gives the film the release it deserves, allowing you to see it like never before.
Synopsis
I WANT YOU TO WATCH THE MOVIE SCREEN. THERE’S SOMETHING I WANT TO SHOW YOU.
Fifteen years before Stranger Things combined science-fiction, Spielberg-ian touches and 80s nostalgia to much acclaim, Richard Kelly set the template – and the high-water mark – with his debut feature, Donnie Darko. Initially beset with distribution problems, it would slowly find its audience and emerge as arguably the first cult classic of the new millennium.
Donnie is a troubled high school student: in therapy, prone to sleepwalking and in possession of an imaginary friend, a six-foot rabbit named Frank, who tells him the world is going to end in 28 days 06 hours 42 minutes and 12 seconds. During that time he will navigate teenage life, narrowly avoid death in the form of a falling jet engine, follow Frank’s maladjusted instructions and try to maintain the space-time continuum.
Described by its director as “The Catcher in the Rye as told by Philip K. Dick”, Donnie Darko combines an eye-catching, eclectic cast – pre-stardom Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal, heartthrob Patrick Swayze, former child star Drew Barrymore, Oscar nominees Mary McDonnell and Katherine Ross, and television favourite Noah Wyle – and an evocative soundtrack of 80s classics by Echo and the Bunnymen, Tears for Fears and Duran Duran. This brand-new 4K restoration, carried out exclusively for this release by Arrow Films, allows a modern classic to finally receive the home video treatment it deserves.
Donnie Darko is a classic, plain and simple. And whether you want to indulge in the Theatrical or Director’s Cut, this Arrow Video edition really is the definitive release of Richard Kelly’s debut.
With Stranger Things becoming a huge hit for Netflix now, Donnie Darko shows how ahead of its time it really was. Its combination of sci-fi and 80s nostalgia is lifted even higher by an existential plot that sees troubled high school student Donnie attempting to unravel the mysteries of time travel and why the world is going to end in 28 days – as foretold to him by his imaginary friend, Frank, a six-foot tall rabbit.
The cast of Donnie Darko is truly astounding with relative unknowns (at the time) Jake Gyllenhaal, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Jena Malone joining established film stars Patrick Swayze and Drew Barrymore, TV heartthrob Noah Wyle and Oscar-nominated actresses Mary McDonnell and Katherine Ross. It’s rare to get so many great actors in one place, not least for an off-beat indie sci-fi movie, making Donnie Darko a real treat. Patrick Swayze’s creepy motivational speaker is worth the price of admission alone.
Arrow Video’s beautiful 4K restoration combined with the original 5.1 audio bring together the visuals and hauntingly nostalgic soundtrack to allow you to experience Donnie Darko at its absolute best. The huge choice of special features, meanwhile, give cinephiles a fantastic insight into this intriguing modern classic.
“Cult glory beckons.” Empire
“Refreshingly different.” The Guardian
“This is startling filmmaking – end of story.” GamesRadar
Limited Edition Contents
Brand new 4K restorations of both the Theatrical Cut and the Director’s Cut from the original camera negatives produced by Arrow Films exclusively for this release, supervised and approved by director Richard Kelly and cinematographer Steven Poster
High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations of both cuts
Original 5.1 audio (DTS-HD on the Blu-ray)
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Audio commentary by writer-director Richard Kelly and actor Jake Gyllenhaal on the Theatrical Cut
Audio commentary by Kelly, producer Sean McKittrick and actors Drew Barrymore, Jena Malone, Beth Grant, Mary McDonnell, Holmes Osborne, Katharine Ross and James Duval on the Theatrical Cut
Audio commentary by Kelly and filmmaker Kevin Smith on the Director’s Cut
Brand-new interviews with Richard Kelly and others
The Goodbye Place, Kelly’s 1996 short film, which anticipates some of the themes and ideas of his feature films
The Donnie Darko Production Diary, an archival documentary charting the film’s production with optional commentary by cinematographer Steven Poster
Twenty deleted and alternate scenes with optional commentary by Kelly
Archive interviews with Kelly, actors Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Drew Barrymore, James Duval, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Holmes Osborne, Noah Wyle and Katharine Ross, producers Sean McKittrick, Nancy Juvonen, Hunt Lowry and Casey La Scala, and cinematographer Steven Poster
Three archive featurettes: They Made Me Do It, They Made Me Do It Too and #1 Fan: A Darkomentary
Storyboard comparisons
B-roll footage
Cunning Visions infomercials
Music video: Mad World by Gary Jules
Galleries
Trailers
TV spots
Exclusive collector’s book containing new writing by Nathan Rabin, Anton Bitel and Jamie Graham, an in-depth interview with Richard Kelly, introduction by Jake Gyllenhaal and contemporary coverage, illustrated with original stills and promotional materials
Limited edition packaging featuring new artwork by Candice Tripp
Details
RRP: £34.99
Region: B/2
Rating: 15
Duration: 113 and 133 mins
Language: English
Subtitles: English SDH
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audio: DTS-HD 5.1
Colour
Discs: 4
Pre-order here at: http://www.arrowfilms.co.uk/shop/index.php?route=product/product&filter_name=donnie&product_id=876
Or at Amazon via the link below.