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‘Donnie Darko’ Oral History: A Mind-Twisting Cult Classic Turns 25
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- In 1998, Richard Kelly, a recent USC film graduate working in Hollywood, was inspired by a childhood memory about a jet engine falling into a boy’s bedroom to create a unique story.
- Kelly imagined the falling object as a jet engine that couldn't be found, using it as a metaphor for the unknown and built a narrative around a teenage character named Donnie Darko.
- His debut feature film, "Donnie Darko," released 25 years ago, is a science-fiction psychological thriller blending horror, social satire, and superhero elements.
- Set in October 1988, the film follows Donnie, a troubled teenager who experiences apocalyptic visions of a monstrous rabbit while dealing with themes of suburban life, time travel, and fate.
