"...A remarkably accomplished piece of filmmaking by a 26-year-old Richard Kelly..."
Movieline's Hollywood Life "...Excitingly original..."
Entertainment Weekly "...Richard Kelly, the first-time writer-director, is obviously talented....He sees his characters freshly and clearly, and never reduces them to formulas. In Jake Gyllenhaal, he finds an actor able to suggest an intriguing kind of disturbance..."
Chicago Sun-Times "...A fine film, even an astounding one....DONNIE DARKO has a texture and tang all its own....Haunting and altogether exquisite..."
Sight and Sound "...This is startling filmmaking -- end of story..."
Total Film "...This home life/high school satire set in someone's twilight zone grabs you and doesn't let go. It's also one of the best cast films of the last decade..."
USA Today "One of the most original debuts of the past 20 years..."
Uncut "DONNIE DARKO has become one of the most original and thought-provoking movies of the last 10 years..."
Premiere 5 stars out of 5 -- "[Featuring] Jake Gyllenhaal's as yet unbettered performance and a stunning script."
Empire