10 Movie Sequels That'll Definitely Make You Angry
5. S. Darko
Richard Kelly’s 2001 cinematic debut, Donnie Darko, is a one-of-a-kind cult classic. It follows an angsty, Holden Caulfield-esque teenage male who’s placed into an alternative universe by a giant bunny rabbit and instructed to save the world.
While that may sound too bizarre to work, its quirky characters (including breakout roles from siblings Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal), sci-fi lore, and irresistible ‘80s soundtrack make it a wonderfully cryptic, heartfelt, and quotable enigma. As a result, it’s also a film that never needed a continuation (especially if Kelly wasn’t involved).
Sadly, that didn’t stop director Chris Fisher and screenwriter Nate Atkins from vomiting out S. Darko in 2009. This time, Donnie’s younger sister, Samantha (now a teen and once again played by Daveigh Chase) embarks on a similar quest but with vastly inferior outcomes. Poorly directed, written, and acted, it completely lacks the intriguing philosophy, memorable personalities, and lingering emotion of its predecessor.
Considering how special Donnie Darko remains, those flaws make S. Darko a particularly egregious and offensive cash grab, and its existence is made more perplexing since few, if any, fans of the original welcomed it.