Smart Cult Classics: Case Studies of Donnie Darko, American Beauty and Magnolia

Abstract

Many scholars have created a number of useful categorizations across new digital films, ranging from database narratives (Manovich), forking path narratives (Bordwell), multiple draft narratives (Branigan and Bordwell), twist films (Wilson, 2006), complex narratives (Staiger, 2005), modular narratives (Cameron, 2008), cult cinema (Hills, 2007), alongside puzzle films (Buckland, 2009), and especially Elsaesser’s mindgame taxonomy. All of these theories help to flesh out this study’s exploration of smart cinema, together with new modes of audience consumption. This chapter will begin by focusing on the revivified notion of cult cinema, followed by ‘mind-games’ to demonstrate how these and other new media protocols, including bonus features, can inform audience reception studies. I will then outline a close reading of smart classics, as suggested and privileged by numerous scholarly studies, namely Donnie Darko (2001), Magnolia (1999) and American Beauty (1999).