Donnie Darko Rips It Up

Engaging and believable narrative environments within the non-linear, browser-based confines of the internet -- these are the holy grails of much net art. The Donnie Darko site comes pretty darned close. Created to promote the Hollywood paranormal thriller of the same name, the site is its own entity -- derived from the movie, yet establishing an entirely other, web-specific universe, complete with spoofed URLs, password-protected areas, and evil 404 error messages. Winner of the 2002 Prix Ars Electronica distinction for net excellence, donniedarko.com ups the ante for web narrative.