11. Drew Barrymore & Flower Films 
Donnie Darko was so very nearly a straight-to-DVD film, yet
Drew Barrymore and her Flower Films came to the rescue and managed to give it a well deserved run in cinemas. She not only used her hollywood clout to produce Richard Kelly's vision she believed in but also her star power by appearing in the cult film, bringing a deep layered teacher to life on screen. Its a testament to her skill as a filmmaker that Darko became the future success it did, she had faith and also the talent to get it out there. Kelly may have had the inspiration, but Barrymore had the belief.
12. S. Darko or how to rape a classic
I once refused to ever watch the so called 'sequel' to one of my favourite films of all time, as everyone could see it was a pointless, money grabbing project that would never live up to its predecessor. Yet with only the best intentions my Mum bought me the DVD one Christmas and so I somehow found myself watching it, maybe to see how bad it truly was, to poke fun at it, and God was it awful. Its an absolute disaster of a movie, but this proves how good the original is.
S. Darko follows an extremely similar structure, themes, iconography; its a fogged reflection of the cult. Everything Kelly got so right, this sequel got so wrong. If anything S. Darko proves how brilliant Richard Kellys debut is, as in another filmmakers hands, well the perfect film became a perfectly terrible film.
13. That Soundtrack!
Tears For Fears, Echo & The Bunnymen, Joy Division, The Church, Duran Duran, INXS, no soundtrack better defines the 80s than Donnie Darkos. The ideal collection of pop classics seamlessly gels with the mood of the piece and adds a nostalgic brilliance to the film. With the added instrumentals of
Michael Andrews and
Gary Jules haunting cover of
Mad World, well it was complete, unashamed 80s bliss. Ill go into depth on each song further down, but man, this soundtrack just inspires. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR91Rj1ZN1M
14. Its The 21st Century Cult
Widely known as the first major cult of the 2000s Donnie Darko epitomises the difficult to define sub genre. A midnight movie in the making, the film has it all; sci-fi, fantasy, comedy, icons, music, a gothic feel. The cult genre is built upon low budget, genre pieces and this just ticked so many boxes. To every cult fan out there, Darko is the one.
15. Perfect Midnight Movie
I havent been lucky enough to either see Donnie Darko at the cinema or at the midnight revival screenings that are said to play regularly across the globe, but I can only imagine the feeling. Re-watching this classic on Halloween or just late one balmy night, cinema doesnt get better than this.