Last night at the bookstore, satellite radio played The Killing Moon. Those opening riffs by Will Sergeant are like a mesmerizing seductive trance leading you towards Ian McCulloch's sultry vocal.
(I just discovered this rare alternate take of The Killing Moon. Different but I prefer this "dreamy take" to the nine minute plus (all night version) from the box set.)
It's been years since I've heard this song. Recently, The Killing Moon reminds me of Donnie Darko. I remember working at Tower Records in New Orleans, before Katrina and the demise of the company, I was on the rock floor when I heard the opening chords to The Killing Moon coming from the Video section. I immediately went over to see who was playing an Echo and the Bunnymen dvd. But it was the opening scene from Donnie Darko. What a scene! I rented the film soon after watching that beautiful scene. A perfect synchronicity of film and music.
The Killing Moon hints at Donnie's eventual demise and it works better than director Richard Kelly's original idea to use INXS Never Tear Us Apart instead. The Killing Moon is such a better fit. It foreshadows the fate, against Donnie's will, that we discover at the end of the film.
It's a little long but here's the opening scene from Donnie Darko with credits and all. Enjoy!
My Trusted MOGs
great song and awesome post, really like the donnie darko tie in
My Trusted MOGs
yeah could never understood why it was replaced on the directors cut, as a song it worked perfectly
My Trusted MOGs
sorry great post by the way and if my memory serves me correctly the killing moon was replaced with never tear us apart by INXS
My Trusted MOGs
yea, the INXS choice is just plain cheese.
the foreshadowing from this song is so much better, besides giving a better feeling to the opening
My Trusted MOGs
I own both versions of Donnie Darko, the original & the director's cut, so I'm an avid fan.
I can't say I like this version of "The Killing Moon", it takes the balls out of the original version imho.