Synopsis:
In Search of Darkness is the most complete retrospective documentary of the genre ever made. Featuring compelling critical takes, insider tales, and unheard anecdotes, this extraordinary documentary delivers a new perspective on the decade that gave rise to some of the horror genre’s greatest films and franchises.
Over its four-hour-plus runtime, In Search of Darkness features an incredible cast of 45+ contributors, including John Carpenter (Director – The Fog, The Thing, They Live, Prince of Darkness), Heather Langenkamp (Actor – A Nightmare on Elm Street Franchise), Doug Bradley (Actor – Hellraiser Franchise), Kane Hodder (Actor – Friday the 13th VII-X) and Barbara Crampton (Actor – Re-Animator, From Beyond).
These ‘80s horror legends are joined by popular horror commentators and critics, including James Rolfe (Cinemassacre), James A. Janisse (Dead Meat), and Joe Bob Briggs (Host of The Last Drive-In With Joe Bob Briggs).
Each of the contributors gives their unique take on the genre and the films they were a part of. This is your opportunity to go behind the scenes of your favorite horror movies with the largest cast of ‘80s horror legends ever assembled.
My Thoughts:
Despite it’s 4-hour-and-change runtime, I wish In Search of Darkness had been even longer. It was almost endlessly fascinating. The 80s was a pretty singularly incredible time for horror. That was when it started getting realistically gory, and slashers found their way, when women began fighting back instead of just giving in, and when the monsters became (arguably) both more diverse and more interesting.
The list of people that were interviewed in order to make this is really impressive – they have John Carpenter, Larry Cohen (RIP), Barbara Crampton, Keith David, Kane Hodder, Mick Garris, Doug Bradley, etc. The list really does just sort of go on and on – but there was one person whose absence I felt keenly.
Why the hell was there no Linnea Quigley? I mean, in four hours and four minutes she was hardly mentioned, although a fair amount of the movies she worked on were. I don’t understand that. I mean, in the 1980s, she has a whopping 39 acting credits – and most of them in horror films. Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers; Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama; The Return of the Living Dead; Night of the Demons; Silent Night, Deadly Night; etc. Where was she?! It just seems weird to me that I’m watching a documentary on 80s horror, and one of its most prolific actresses is nowhere to be found.
“A journey into iconic 80s horror.”
Like the tagline says, this was a journey into iconic 80s horror. But, if you’re looking for a deeper dive, don’t discount it yet – the format they use to guide the viewer from film to film is actually kind of a treasure trove of slightly deeper cuts. Although they only cover the Big Ones, they do so by panning from cover to cover on a digital backdrop covered in movie covers – and thus panning over covers of films they weren’t going to talk about. This is the gold. The stuff I hadn’t seen. Some I hadn’t even heard of, and I came from the 80s! So while you aren’t going to find anything super obscure, chances are fairly good you will at least be reminded while they pan over the un-covered of some things that you always meant to see but haven’t or even some stuff you’ve never heard of before. So, keep an eye on that.
My Edition:
Blu ray with digital
Rating:
I’m unsure when this documentary is going to be released to the greater public, but wanted to get my review out there anyway, so you know when it does that it is definitely worth checking out. It is fairly comprehensive, and honestly just fun to watch. The long runtime doesn’t feel long at all.
Edit to add: there is now a part 2, which is similar in length. I have bought that one as well, and will post a review to the site ASAP.
In Search of Darkness
Directed by: David A. Weiner
Released October 31, 2019 (US) - to backers
CreatorVC Studios
Documentary, Horror
Not Rated
244 minutes
https://80shorrordoc.com/
