Characters

A troubled sixteen-year-old in Middlesex, Virginia, who sleepwalks out of his bedroom minutes before a jet engine falls into it - and is chosen as the Living Receiver of the Tangent Universe that follows.

Elizabeth Darko's boyfriend, who dies on Halloween night in a rabbit costume - and, as one of the Manipulated Dead, spends the whole Tangent Universe guiding Donnie toward that night.

The new girl at Middlesex Ridge, hiding from her violent stepfather under an assumed name. She becomes Donnie's girlfriend and, on the final night, the Ensurance Trap that guarantees he returns the Artifact.

A former nun, then physics teacher, who wrote "The Philosophy of Time Travel" and now spends her days walking to and from an empty mailbox. The children call her Grandma Death.

A local motivational speaker whose Fear-and-Love doctrine is taught at Donnie's school. Donnie burns his house down on Frank's instruction; the firefighters find a child-pornography 'dungeon' inside.

Gym teacher, Sparkle Motion coach and Jim Cunningham's champion. Her decision to stay for his hearing sends Rose Darko - and the future Artifact - to Los Angeles.

Donnie's psychiatrist. Under hypnosis he tells her about Frank; near the end she admits his medication has been a placebo.

Donnie's English teacher, who assigns Graham Greene's "The Destructors", seats Gretchen next to Donnie, and is fired for it. She gives him the phrase 'cellar door'.

The physics teacher who gives Donnie Roberta Sparrow's book and explains wormholes - until the conversation turns to God and he has to stop.

Donnie's older sister, Frank's girlfriend, newly admitted to Harvard. The Halloween party she throws on October 29 is where the final night begins.

The youngest Darko and a member of Sparkle Motion. Her trip to Star Search puts her, and her mother, on the plane whose engine becomes the Artifact.

Donnie's mother, who chaperones Sparkle Motion to Los Angeles in Kitty Farmer's place and is on the plane when the engine comes off. The last person on screen.

Donnie's father, away on business for much of the film. It is his gun Donnie follows his liquid spear to, and uses to kill Frank.

A bullied classmate with a crush on Donnie ('Chut up!'). Her notebook of Donnie drawings and her talent-show dance are among the film's most tender details.

The school bullies who ambush Donnie and Gretchen at Roberta Sparrow's house on the final night, pushing them into the road as Frank's car arrives.