Fans of the original film have cried blasphemy to the continuation of the Donnie Darko universe. However the new film S. Darko played by Daveigh Chase, whom is reprising her role from the first film, has more things in common with the original then you think. Still, the film has an impossible task to re-create the magic and mystery that fans have flocked to from the original film.
On a road trip from her hometown of Virginia, Samantha Darko (Daveigh Chase) and her cohort in crime Corey (Briana Evigan), head west to LA in search of fame and fortune as professional dancers. When their trip is cut short by a broken water pump, the two find themselves stranded in the little town of Conejo Springs, Utah. The two are saved by a local rebellious kid Randy (Ed Westwick) whom happens to be passing by. He not only helps them to get a tow, but finds them a hotel and offers to help in fixing the car for a much cheaper rate. At the hotel the two are told about a missing boy in the community. Later that night, Sam has her “sleepwalks” where she finds her altered self sitting on top of a windmill with the local eccentric, Justin "Iraq Jack" Sparrow (James Lafferty). He tells her he has been waiting for her. He is a victim of the war and is shell shocked and in a sense has never come back. Her altered self is dressed in a flowing gown and has a deep gash in the side of her forehead. She warns him the world will end in four days, seventeen hours, twenty-six minutes and thirty-one seconds. She tells him to follow her off the windmill just in time before a meteor hits and destroys it. The next day, Sam wakes up on a bus bench not remembering a thing.
S. Darko continues the same Donnie Darko journey into two different realities where one has to decide on their ultimate fate. Much like Donnie, Sam has to find the answers and accept the consequences of her path. Along the way unlike Donnie, everyone will be a part of the final decisions that will have a domino effect on the future.
Along with the feature film, S. Darko comes with some nice special bonus features. First up we have a wonderful commentary track with director Chris Fisher, writer Nathan Atkins and cinematographer Marvin V. Rush. This is a very informative track that helps to fill in the sometimes gray areas in the Darko universe. It all sounds so simple and obvious after hearing their explanations and definitely helps to make the film more enjoyable the second time around. The six deleted scenes should have for the most part been included in the original film. These are not worth being left on the cutting room floor and it’s nice to see them at least in the bonus features. The Making of S. Darko is a great companion piece to the film and gives you some info on the making of the film. Finally, Utah Too Much is a fun little featurette on a song that was made during the production of the film.
S. Darko is a film that was destined to fail. It’s hard to make a sequel on such a beloved and ultimately sacred film, especially if you don’t have the original creative team back. Some may say this is a film that should have never been attempted and perhaps they are right. Yet, if you give the film half a chance you may be pleasantly surprised on the final outcome. Daveigh Chase does a great job along with director Chris Fisher to bring back some of the edgy intrigue that the original Donnie Darko delivered. Take a chance and enter the wormhole of S. Darko and see for yourself now on Blu-ray.
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