13 Movie Sequels That Shouldn't Have Been Made

Donnie Darko didn't need a sequel. It definitely didn't need this.

S. Darko was released in 2009, eight years after the first film. The ending of Donnie Darko is one of cinema's most unique and surprising climaxes, as Jake Gyllenhaal's titular character is crushed by a jet engine as he lays in bed and laughs. Richard Kelly, the mastermind behind the original, has gone on record to say he's never seen the sequel and never will, and that speaks volumes.

The problem with S. Darko is its attempts at re-living the oddities of the original. Samantha Darko is Donnie's little sister, played here by Daveigh Chase; the same actress who portrayed the character in the first film. Taking many themes from its predecessor - from ideas about teen life to time travel, sleep walking and bizarre hallucinations - the sequel butchers every attempt it gets to relive some of the highs of what came before.

As she tries to unravel some mysteries around town, Samantha orders someone to burn a church; there is a meteor strike complete with a subplot about radiation; and far too many ham-fisted time travel elements, all of which get cheaper and less effective as the film goes on.

It's a poor film in its own right. Compare it with the weird genius of Donnie Darko, and it's one of the worst sequels ever made. Luckily, Donnie Darko is too good to be weighed down by it, and hopefully it will be forgotten in time.