He was born in Brooklyn, New York. After high school, Darren went to Harvard University to study film, live action as well as animation. Five years after university, in February 1996 he began creating the concept for his first feature film &pi, released in 1998. After that he directed the well received Requiem for a dream in 2000. For 2004 a movie called The Fountain is announced.
His trademark is a technique known as hip hop montage. This technique shows images or actions in fast motion, accompanied by sound effects, trying to simulate a certain action, e.g. taking drugs.