In Search of Darkness: A Journey Into Iconic 80s Horror

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Michael Antony A In Search Of Darkness: A Journey Into Iconic 80s Horror (2019)* A love letter to the greats (and not so great) of 80s Horror, American filmmaker David A. Weiner’s impressive documentary is a pure joy from start to finish. Especially to anyone who remembers the days of browsing Blockbuster Video shelves for the most outrageous and / or disgusting looking covers - hoping to discover something equally ‘nasty’, creepy or hairraising inside! 😅 Most of the artwork often sensationalised the ‘money shot’ scene of said film (which frequently led to disappointment), but VHS gave movie fans and budding filmmakers a freedom of choice like never before. Running at just over 4 1/2 hours, it’s a fascinating journey filled with uncut clips, behind the scenes anecdotes and stories, and interviews with some of the decades main genre players and celebrity fans (such as Slipknot’s Cory Taylor). Among a host of iconic names we get Doug Bradley (Pinhead ‘Hellraiser’), John Carpenter (Halloween), Larry Cohen (It’s Alive), Jeffrey Combs (Re-Animator), Lori Cardille (Day Of The Dead), Joe Dante (Gremlins), Keith David (The Thing), Stuart Gordon (From Beyond), Kane Hodder (Jason Voorhees), Tom Holland (Fright Night), Lloyd Kaufman (The Toxic Avenger), Heather Langenkamp (A Nightmare On Elmstreet), Don Mancini (Child’s Play), Harry Manfredini (Friday The 13th), Kelli Maroney (Chopping Mall), Alex Winter (The Lost Boys), Heather Wixson (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) and Brian Yuzna (Society)… Split into sections the documentary series covers topics such as prosthetics and practical FX, music, sex, the ‘Final Girl’, cultural changes and censorship. If anything, it’s too short! There must be hours of material left on the cutting room floor and surely someday this too will see the light of day. The genre paved the way for experimental filmmaking on a minutiae budget, and created a platform for some huge names in the industry such as James Cameron, Sam Raimi and David Cronenberg. For horror fans and nostalgia junkies it’s one hell of a ride and well worth the trip. And while it might not always delve deep enough into the pool of talent involved, as a testament to an era of boundry pushing, taboo breaking cinema and a sadly dying art (will we ever see a proper return to practical FX?), it comes damn close to perfection. Mikey’s Film Rating: 🧟‍♂️👻🎃💀😈/5* (*Currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime.) Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/25/25 Full Review Audience Member A collection of the most well known and highly regarded films from the best decade in horror, with insightful cast and crew interviews that will make you nostalgic for the 80s. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/10/24 Full Review Brad P In Search of Darkness is a brilliant, panoramic love letter to eighties horror. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/07/23 Full Review Craig B A must watch, fabulous doco for horror buffs. Great walk down memory lane plus found a few ‘lost gems' I have not seen yet! Although featuring only a smattering of well known celebrities, even the interviews with the lesser known actors / hosts are well worth watching. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review tim s This mega 1980's horror fest gives an in-depth view into a wide range of classic ( and some not so classic) movies." In search of Darkness" is a useful link to films that you may not of ever considered or even heard of prior to watching. It picks the best horror films ( and not so good) from the ten 1980's years and has expert reviews of the films. Most of the features in between the years regarding effects, sound, etc give a real insight into the industry. However some do become a little repetitive which made me want to get onto to the next year and continue watching the reviews of the films themselves. That said This is a really well made documentary with some amazing insight. "In search of Darkness" is well worth checking out if you are are specifically a fan of 1980's horror and not sure which 80's classic to watch next. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member In Search of Darkness is not only the greatest horror documentary films, but one of the greatest documentaries of all time. The format, the interviews, and the analysis of such a wealth of horror movies from the decade is unmatched by anything I've seen. Four hours seems daunting, but it has more than earned the sequel(s) that continue what it starts. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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