' DONNIE DARKO ' HONOURS ' : FILM SNIPPET

It can still twist students' minds. In the summer of 1998, Richard Kelly was a recent U.S.C. film graduate making minimum wage at a Hollywood postproduction house but eager to get something going.

He was struck by a memory from his childhood in Suburban Virginia : a story about an ice chunk falling from a jet and crashing into a boy's bedroom.

Donnie Darko was released in October 25 years ago : a science-fiction psychological thriller and social satire packed with horror overtones and the superhero undertones.

Set in October 1988, it follows the disaffected Donnie, who, guided by apocalyptic visions of a monstrous rabbit, navigates suburban hypocrisy, time travel and fate.

Filmed in Southern California in less than a month in summer 2000, the low-budget movie featured up-and-coming actors like Jake Gyllenhaal [ as Donnie ], Maggie Gyllenhaal and Seth Rogen [in his first movie].

They joined seasoned performers like Patrick Swayze, Noah Wyle and Drew Barrymore.

Kelly is continuing the story in the novel '' The Philosophy of Time '' due in December and taking place immediately after the events of the film.

In the cast and crew's own words, this is how the Indie film weathered early lows to become a cult classic.........!

!WOW! thanks Maya Salam and The NYTs.