Twenty years ago, an obscure psychological thriller named “Donnie Darko” was released, featuring a little-known cast and a novice film director and writer. Set in 1988, the film’s music was reflective of its period and included songs that – at the time – didn’t hold much cultural significance.

Of course, fans of the movie know how all of this plays out. “Donnie Darko” went on to become a cult classic and an essential Halloween viewing experience, thanks in part to that enigmatic soundtrack. Gary Jules' cover of Tears For Fears' "Mad World" reached the top 10 on the U.K. charts after it was released as a single in late 2003, spawning a director's cut that put the film back in theaters the following year. 

This soundtrack was also responsible for introducing an entire new legion of fans to this apocalyptic darkwave, post-punk vibe — a sound that would go on to define the era, and shape the following generation of music. 

“I’ve had this dream to dress up a band and do a cover set since I was in high school and saw ‘Donnie Darko’ for the first time,” said musician, producer and film composer Chase Horseman. “The music in the movie changed my taste immensely, and introduced me to ‘80s classics I may never have heard of.”

In 2019, Horseman enlisted several members of their own band, Chase the Horseman, to perform a night of these songs at the Stray Cat Film Center. Due to an overwhelmingly positive reception, the group – which they called Low Pony – planned a follow-up screening and performance at Lemonade Park in October 2020, later canceled due to weather. The result of that, however, is a brilliant rendition and production of this soundtrack, fulfilling the vision Horseman had years before.

“To me, this film and collection of songs are all about transformation and change, and lessons learned via the passage of time, if we're gonna be serious about it,” Horseman said. “These songs are also all just jams that were so fun to play with such a talented band and crew. Our hope was to honor the originals while instilling our own interpretations within reason.”

Horseman and bandmates Ada Brumback, Ian Dobyns, Sky Cowdry and Zak Hames move deftly through the songs — channeling the existential, romantic dread of music from Tears For Fears, Duran Duran, INXS, Joy Division and others. Filmed at Element Recording Studios by Kat King and Taylor High, band members also contributed directly to the production. Brumback directed and edited the video, and the audio was mixed by Horseman, edited by Hames and mastered by Dobyns (also engineered by Joel Nanos).

- Michelle Bacon for 90.9 The Bridge 2021