Richard Kelly will next write and helm the contemporary thriller “Corpus Christi,” a departure into a more traditional narrative for the “Donnie Darko” director.
Kelly and Sean McKittrick will produce along with Eli Roth, who has known the Darko duo since his “Cabin Fever” days. [The] Texas-set story concerns a mentally unstable Iraq war veteran, who forges a strange friendship with his boss, a wealthy and politically ambitious owner of a supermarket chain.
‘Donnie Darko’ was one of the best films of 2001 in my book. I freaking L-O-V-E-D that movie head to toe as did many others. That film gained a following and still rules. All that praise aside, I have wondered …what in the hell happened!? “Southland Tales” was mangled in production and delayed to the point where the film’s mess was all too evident. 2009’s “The Box” was one of the worst films I have ever seen in the last decade. I H*A*T*E*D ‘The Box’. And like ‘Tales’ it tanked. Neither film gained a rep following like ‘Donnie Darko’. After ‘Box’, my heart sank. As inventive as Kelly is, I was fearing that the writer-director was a one hit wonder. I’m still hoping that isn’t the case.
But this is a step in the right direction, I think. Kelly would have to try his hand at a different genre, and although I’m not Eli Roth’s biggest fan, I liked bits and pieces (no pun intended) of ‘Cabin Fever’ and ‘Hostel’. I was also lighly surprised by last year’s ‘Last Exorcism’ which Roth co-produced.
I’m thinking this could be a good partnership. I’m also hoping for at least a glimpse of what promise Kelly’s Donnie gave us not too long ago. Kelly has got a voice in film- I want to root for him.
It’s sink or swim time.
What do you think, should we write off Kelly, or not?
I liked The Box, a lot actually. Whatever..to each his own.
I liked “The Box” Because it was a Richard Kelly movie, “Southland Tales” however, I think I’m still confused by it. I would like to see a real Donnie Darko Sequel.
There already was a Darko sequel called S. Darko.
He said “real”, Rodney. Therefore I’m going under the assumption that Erick “knows” about S.Darko, but doesn’t count it as an official sequel. Kind of like what Shock Treatment was to Rocky Horror Picture Show, or Halloweem III among the Michel Myers flicks…in other words, something folks want to ignore or forget.
I think he knows it exists; he just wished it didn’t. That’s whar he means br “real”. (I think)
Many fans of Donnie Darko refuse to acknowlege S Darko. But I’ll point out that S.Darko was the only squel that could have been made, since the ending of Donnie Darko…well, it’s like Highlander, where there should be only one…? Someone has to find something to hang a hat on- so they say ‘Donnie’s younger sister!’ It isn’t the best idea- and folks paid the price for that blunder for sure.
Kind of like the bastard stepchild, y’know?
You don’t? Well, okay, nevermind…
Southland Tales was a mess, but at least it was ambitious. However, The Box was just plain terrible. I’m willing to give him one more chance though.