1. Richard Kelly
Oh, Richard Kelly, what has become of you? And given that - out of all the directors' debuts on this list - I consider Kelly's debut flick to be my favourite, watching him slowly digging his own grave is kind of heartbreaking. Because
Donnie Darko was a genuine indie gem - where did an idea like that even come from? The premise, a sort of twisted hybrid of teen angst and science-fiction, is inspired and brilliantly executed. Though
Donnie Darko stayed underground for a while, once it began to gain some momentum and recognition), the world looked to be Richard Kelly's oyster - for such a young director, he had accomplished so much. Right? Well, that "world is his oyster" thing never happened, and that's partly because of
Southland Tales (one of the most baffling and over-reaching cinematic endeavors ever undertaken) and Kelly's follow-up, which is the just-OK Richard Matherson adaptation
The Box. In just over 10 years, Kelly has gone from wunderkind to hack. Both
Southland and
The Box don't even seem like they're from the same director. Whether the pressure got too much for him or he just got lucky with
Donnie Darko, Richard Kelly should have thrown in the towel soon after he made his sensational debut. That way, he could have faded away as an obscure, cult icon instead of... well, what is he nowadays, anyway? What's the word for something "so disappointing it's genuinely mind-blowing on every level?"
Agree or disagree with the directors featured here? Let us know in the comments section below.