Q 01/05

Who wrote and directed Donnie Darko, his debut feature?

A) Darren Aronofsky

B) Rian Johnson

C) Shane Carruth

D) Richard Kelly

Answer · why

D) Richard Kelly

Richard Kelly wrote the script at 22, fresh out of USC film school, and later made Southland Tales and The Box.

Q 02/05

In which month and year is Donnie Darko set?

A) October 1985

B) October 1988

C) November 1991

D) October 1999

Answer · why

B) October 1988

The film is set in October 1988, with the Bush-Dukakis election in the background; the story runs from October 2 to the early hours of October 30.

Q 03/05

Donnie survives the accident at the start of the film because he was doing what?

A) Attending a party

B) Working a night shift

C) Sleepwalking

D) Hiding in the garage

Answer · why

C) Sleepwalking

Sleepwalking takes Donnie out to the golf course on the night of October 2, so he is not in his bedroom when wreckage crashes into it.

Q 04/05

What falls onto the Darko house?

A) A meteorite

B) A jet engine

C) A helicopter

D) A satellite

Answer · why

B) A jet engine

A jet engine, apparently from a plane that does not yet exist, smashes into Donnie's bedroom; that image was the seed of the whole script.

Q 05/05

Frank appears to Donnie wearing what costume?

A) A wolf

B) A skeleton

C) A clown

D) A rabbit

Answer · why

D) A rabbit

A rabbit suit with a grotesque metallic mask, worn by James Duval, makes Frank far more sinister than a storybook bunny.