‘Darko’ sequel can’t hold a candle to ‘Donnie’ (1/5)

S. Darko

Starring: Daveigh Chase, Briana Evigan, Ed Westwick.
Director: Chris Fisher.
Rating: R for language, some violent content and brief drug use.
Running Time: 1 hour, 43 minutes.


“S. Darko: A Donnie Darko Tale,” fails miserably as an attempt at being a sequel or even a decent movie in general. The fact that it was sent straight to DVD immediately sends up a multitude of red flags.

“Donnie Darko” is a beloved cult classic, a psychological thriller set in 1988. Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) finds himself tangled in an end-of-the-world web when the menacing bunny-costumed “Frank” appears to him. The movie cuts its ties nicely, weaving them intricately into its tightly knitted plot.

“Donnie Darko” examines action and reaction, selfishness vs. selflessness, human nature, life, and, inescapably, death. It’s a film that can be watched again and again and constantly provides new insights into its own depth.

“S. Darko” is a cheap, shoddy, poor excuse for a straight-to-DVD movie whose sole bit of interest is that the main character, Samantha Darko, is played by the same actor as in Donnie Darko, Daveigh Chase.

“S. Darko” also suffers from the lack of such “Donnie” mood-setters as Gary Jules’ somber “Mad World” and Tears for Fears’ “Head Over Heels.”

But, perhaps it’s unfair to compare “S. Darko” to “Donnie Darko.” After all, the original was written and directed by Richard Kelly. “S. Darko” was written by Nathan Atkins and directed by Chris Fisher.
“S. Darko’s” convoluted plot begins when Samantha and rebellious best friend Corey (Briana Evigan) face a broken-down car on an impromptu cross-country journey. Bad boy Randy (Ed Westwick) offers them a lift into his nearby small Utah town, where they hole up in a motel.

The next day, Samantha sees a meteorite crash site at a local farmer’s windmill and later discovers that local nerd Jeremy has procured it, and is also quite smitten with her. The meteorite later appears to be the cause of an inexplicable rash that appears on Jeremy’s body as well as a personality shift.

While Corey enjoys partying with Randy and frolicking about in nigh-professional-dancer wear (though, admittedly, Samantha is pointlessly barely clothed at times as well), Samantha’s “dead” body appears to the local nut, Iraq Jack (James Lafferty), whom “she” commands to burn down a local church, which infuriates the local religious folk.

Frank’s “when the world will end” countdown is back, but this time given by Sam to Iraq Jack.
Oh, in a side plot barely worth mentioning except for the creepy appearances of a dead boy, Samantha also learns about two missing young boys from the town, one of whom is Randy’s little brother.

Lafferty arguably gives the most believable performance of the cast as a crazed, obsessed war veteran. Evigan’s pointlessly provocative outfits distract from her wooden dialogue, and Westwick’s attempts at anything deeper than a superficial “bad boy” fall flat.

Fisher attempts to re-create the world of “Donnie Darko” with a bunny-headed mask akin to Frank, the “future motion” that come out of character’s chests, and similar scenes such as sped-up clouds and slowed-down parties.

Another element that is included, “The Philosophy of Time Travel” by Roberta Sparrow, seems to play significantly in “S. Darko,” yet, following the plot of “Donnie Darko,” should not be in Samantha’s possession. Donnie received the book during the in-between time of the initial jet-engine crash and the reset of time.

And, like the original, “S. Darko” rewinds time — but not just once. While Fisher is grasping for themes of sacrifice, love and free will, he only manages to reach pointless.

“S. Darko” tramples on the ingenuity and provocativeness of the original. Amazingly, it even sinks below the other poor cult sequel that was recently released, “The Lost Boys: The Tribe” After watching “S. Darko,” you’ll wish you had Darko “superpowers” and could regain the two hours you spent.

1 of 5 stars