Review: In Search of Darkness: A Journey into Iconic 80s Horror

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While I am known to occasionally moan about 80s nostalgia veering into hyperbole if there is one thing I would agree on, it would be how important that decade was for horror.


Perhaps it was the political landscape, the rise of mall Cineplexes and video stores, the advances in practical effects but there was something spooky in the air. The sheer volume of output is impossible to dismiss, in fact, it should be discussed, at length.


That's what In Search of Darkness: A Journey into Iconic 80s Horror, the new documentary from former Famous Monsters editor (and Pod Stallions regular) David Weiner sets out to do.


Clocking in at 258 minutes, In Search of Darkness is about 2.5 times longer than many of the films it is celebrating and as it continues, you completely understand why it had to be.


Thematically, ISOD lays out all the subject matter almost as if someone is placing VHS movies on the floor ordered by year and gives a special insight into each one.

Commentary and special insight from genre notables such as John Carpenter, Joe Dante, Cassandra Peterson, Lloyd Kaufman, and Joe Bob Briggs to name but a few really help to give the documentary an even keel, it never completely aggrandizes or debases its subjects, it just has fun.


The brisk pacing means it also never lingers too terribly long on any subject, that fairness moves you through multiple sub-genres including horror-comedies, a personal favourite of mine.


Along the way, memorable horror trappings such as soundtracks, practical effects and the 80s obsession with bare breasts are interjected into the film providing an important pallet cleanser.


One of the more interesting effects ISOD had on me was that it changed my mind. While I've always freely admitted it was a successful era, I personally thought it too predilected with gimmicky slasher pictures. I now consider that opinion entirely short-sighted.


In Search of Darkness properly showcases just how an inventive time it truly was with slashers bumping elbows with monsters, aliens, demons, zombies, killer toys, ghosts and most importantly, completely risky ideas and concepts.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to put on some leg warmers, chill a bottle of New Coke and watch "Night of the Creeps".

In Search of Darkness is available on Blu-Ray or DVD at the movie's official website. This limited run of the movie will only be available until Oct. 31 with expected delivery for November 2019.
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[Werewolf]

It's not hyperbole. The 80s really were totally awesome.

Before anyone gets upset I'm just messing with you all.

In all seriousness though, pop culture wise (movies, tv, music, cartoons, toys, etc.) the 80s were a special time. It was a weird and wild convergence of many different political and cultural forces that would be hard to replicate.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I tend to forget how important 80s horror was to me at the time. My friends and I rented at least one horror film a weekend for the better part of 4 or 5 years. We saw just about everything that came out. For the most part, the bulk of it isn't the type of film I seek out now, but I have a lot of good memories tied up in those films, even the bad ones!

Thanks for the heads up. I'll have to check this out, based on your recommendation. I also love Reagan being mixed in with all the monsters too. ;-)

Chris

[B-Lister]

80s horror was something else. It really tried to diverge from what had come before, and try out tons of new ideas (not saying that wasn't happening before...Romero is proof of that), but the 80s took a "throw everything at the wall and see what sticks" approach, and by and large, it worked. Even some of the lamer stuff is remembered fondly. Not all of it is to my liking, including some of the more popular stuff, but if you can't find SOMETHING to enjoy out of the cornucopia that was 80s horror, the problem is most likely you.

[Werewolf]

but the 80s took a "throw everything at the wall and see what sticks" approach,

That's what was so great about it. The 80s were anything goes. You had the obvious slasher films like Friday the 13th the 80s is infamous for but also monster movies like American Werewolf, sci fi horror like Aliens, gross out horror like the Fly and horror comedies like Ghostbusters, Gremlins and Killer Klowns.

It was all over the place and it was awesome.

[Werewolf]

BTW: Does anyone else consider Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom a horror movie? I personally think it definitely crosses over into horror.

[B-Lister]

The 80s were anything goes.

It was all over the place and it was awesome.

No doubt. While everybody's tastes were different, there was something to cater to every taste. I am more partial to the cheesiest fare...Chopping Mall, Ghoulies, Critters, The Gate, The Stuff...and I like the ones that featured great puppetry and practical effects. I'm not so big on gore, I'm more into the suspense of the scare, than seeing a gruesome death in bloody living color.

[Werewolf]

I like scary but not really gory or slasher stuff.

Anyone else remember The Keep?

That was one freaky movie and the evil being Molasar was creepy as hell. Don't make them like that anymore.

[tay666]

OMG!
80's Horror was amazing! (still is)

Don't get me wrong, I love the classics, espcially with Price, Karloff, Cushing, etc.
But the 80's sheer volume was breathtaking.
So many types and styles. The birth of the Evil Dead franchise.
So much schlock, so many sequels, so many good times watching it all with friends.