Today, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Richard Kelly’s genre-bending, mind-bending cult classic, Donnie Darko.
Due to advertising depicting a crashing plane close to the events of 9/11, Donnie Darko‘s marketing was very limited, resulting in a menial box-office haul. But the film’s release on VHS/DVD led to a boom in sales and praise—some even called it one of the best independent films ever made.
In today’s clip, we want to celebrate the sound design that brought the iconic, bunny suit-wearing Frank to life, from morphing his voice to surrounding him with sci-fi effects that help separate his character from reality. Even on a small budget, the sound team was able to create an eerie atmosphere whenever Frank was onscreen, leaving audiences wondering if they’re meant to fear or trust him. So, here’s to Jake Gyllenhaal’s breakout performance in Donnie Darko and the continuing cult status of this indie film staple!