Donnie Darko (25th Anniversary)

Donnie Darko returns to the big screen at Gloucester Guildhall on Saturday 14 November, as part of the venue's Event Cinema programme. Richard Kelly's sci-fi cult classic is being screened in a luminous 4K restoration, so it's a chance to see it on the big screen rather than on a sofa.

If you've only ever seen it on DVD or streamed it, the 4K restoration is the main draw here. It's a film that relies on its atmosphere and its specific, late-night suburban mood, and that's always better when it's projected properly. The story follows a troubled teenager who, after surviving a near-miss with a jet engine, starts having visions of a giant rabbit that tells him the world is ending in 28 days. From there it spirals into a mix of time travel, teenage angst, and a fair bit of existential dread, and it's the kind of film that usually sparks a long debate once the credits roll.

It's also the 25th anniversary of the original release, which gives the screening a bit of a celebratory feel. The Guildhall's Event Cinema programme brings films like this into the space, and this one fits the bill—a cult favourite that's probably seen more times on a small screen than it ever has in a cinema. Whether you're coming back to it for the anniversary or seeing it for the first time, it's a good excuse to get it out of the home and into a room with other people.

It's on Saturday 14 November at Gloucester Guildhall, so you can head in on a weekend rather than squeezing it into a weekday evening. If you're planning to go, it's worth getting your tickets sorted early.