In Search of Darkness trailer mashes up iconic horror moments

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

We don't usually cover movies that are still in the middle of a fundraising campaign here on Arrow in the Head, but it seems we can make an exception for the documentary IN SEARCH OF DARKNESS: A JOURNEY INTO ICONIC '80S HORROR because the project has far surpassed its initial Kickstarter goal with 27 days still left in the campaign.

David Weiner is directing the documentary, which aims to 

bring together ‘80s horror icons, modern horror greats, and popular horror influencers to create the most complete retrospective documentary of the genre ever made. Together, they will bring their unique perspectives as we take a nostalgic journey back to revisit the unforgettable heroes, monsters, and movies that thrilled and chilled us.

Production is set to begin in January, and the plan is to cover a wide range of topics: 

– Learn about the era from the perspective of the masters who frightened us, the directors of today who were inspired by them, and the new generation of social media influencers who have fallen in love with the genre.

– Hear from the actors, writers, directors, producers, and composers who brought horror icons such as Freddy Krueger, Jason Vorhees, Michael Myers and Pinhead to the screen. 

– Delve into the imagery: the garish VHS covers and poster art that seduced us and came to define the '80s horror aesthetic.

– Re-examine the socio/political context that inspired our favourite movies – fears of nuclear war, violent crime, and deadly diseases.

– Explore the rise of the B-Movie superstars: Bruce Campbell, Jeffrey Combs, and Robert Englund; stars that could guarantee success for what was an otherwise overlooked sub-genre.

– Investigate how the explosion of VHS enabled these icons of horror to take the leap from the movie screen into our homes and created new opportunities for low-budget filmmakers.

– Examine the role of practical in-camera effects, animatronics, and prosthetics played in scaring us in a time before CGI.

– Discuss the importance of the '80s horror genre and its impact on society, including how its violent and explicit imagery opened-up new political, sociological, and cultural discussion.

I was born in the '80s, the films of that decade were primarily what I watched when I was getting into horror, and they're still a major part of my viewing rotation. It's not just nostalgia; a staggering number of incredible horror movies were made in the '80s.

To promote their campaign, Weiner and the team behind IN SEARCH OF DARKNESS have had an awesome promo cut together that consists entirely of amazing, iconic moments from '80s horror movies. The video embedded below is truly a beautiful work of art.

If you'd like to contribute to the IN SEARCH OF DARKNESS campaign, you have until November 4th to do so.