Critical popcorn

Richard Kelly‘s cult classic Donnie Darko is already 15-years-old (Where has the time gone?!) and so it’s a perfect moment, and the right time of the year, for it to return to UK cinemas for a winter run both restored and in 4K.

Coinciding with Arrow Films 25th anniversary, the original theatrical version of Donnie Darko will have an exclusive run at the BFI in London from 16th December followed by a nationwide release for the rest of us from 23rd December. The Director’s Cut, which has also been newly remastered, will be available as well.

Donnie is a troubled high school student: in therapy, prone to sleepwalking and in possession of an imaginary friend, a six-foot rabbit named Frank, who tells him the world is going to end in 28 days 06 hours 42 minutes and 12 seconds. During that time he will navigate teenage life, narrowly avoid death, follow Frank’s instructions and try to maintain the space-time continuum…

Described by its director as ‘The Catcher in the Rye as told by Philip K. Dick’, Donnie Darko features a top notch cast that included pre-fame Jake Gyllenhaal and Maggie Gyllenhaal, legend Patrick Swayze, Drew Barrymore, Jena Malone, Mary McDonnell, Katharine Ross, and Noah Wyle all alongside a classy 80s soundtrack. This brand-new 4K restoration, carried out exclusively for this release by Arrow Films, allows a modern classic to be shown again in its finest form.

We’ll be there, probably without a giant rabbit, and you can pre-order the new release here if you’d like to take it home whatever outcome you choose…