Do you want more 80’s horror? You got it! David Weiner’s In Search Of Darkness: A Journey Into Iconic 80’s Horror was a jam-packed revelry in all the tremendous horror content that the 80’s had to offer when it was released to viewers by CreatorVC Studios Inc back in 2019. If you thought the initial venture into the variety of 80’s horror was enough to satisfy viewers, you thought wrong. The documentary series is back with plenty of additions to enjoy, fear, and discover.

Rounding out another whopping four and a half hours, the documentary leaves no stone or VHS unturned as the iconic decade comes to life in all its influential glory once again. Exploring more films with more stars, more industry experts, and more creators from the genre community, In Search Of Darkness: Part II is a masterclass sequel and vital companion piece to the first adventure seeking the popular, reviled, beloved and forgotten horror of the 80’s.

Significant Segments

Following suit of the first documentary, In Search Of Darkness: Part II is marked by segments that outline the enormous amount of content to be devoured. Like any good film discussion, these designated sections serve as loose touchstones to guide the viewer’s way through the darkness and present the major themes of 80’s horror films and the filmmakers of the time.

Segments like ‘Demon Seeds: Classic Horror Influences’, ‘Live Through This: Anti-Heroes and The Horror Avatar’, ‘Children In Horror: The Good, The Bad, and The Vulnerable’, and ‘8-Bit Adventures: Classic Horror Video Games’ give the documentary meaty portions for commentators to analyze, educate, and share content beyond simple film summaries. In Search Of Darkness: Part II also adds bit-size studies of individual genre players like ‘Tom Savini on Tom Savini’, ‘Nancy Allen on Nancy Allen’, and ‘Linnea Quigley on Linnea Quigley’ to highlight fan-favorite contributions of major 80’s horror films. 

“…leaves no stone or VHS unturned as the iconic decade comes to life in all its influential glory once again.”

These segments not only function as topics of discussion but also as major points in the decade that molded and continues to shape the horror genre we love today. Unlike other documentary type projects that list and montage films as a way to squeeze the range of depth into shallow themes, In Search Of Darkness: Part II continues to spotlight a multitude of films one by one, while also incorporating others through commentary to cover as much ground as possible. Given the series is a combined 9 hours worth (so far), it’s obvious that there is much to convey.

While the chapter-like titles provide significant checkpoints for the journey through releases of the major decade, In Search Of Darkness: Part II is particularly steered by a fluid collection of fascinating discourse, behind-the-scenes bits, fun facts, interpretations, and analysis. The segment themes provide insights on subjects like rape-revenge, the counter-culture, nature run amok, body horror, scientific advances, ad campaigns, scoring and soundtracks, cross-genres, foreign films, video games, visual effects, and so much more.

Commentaries From The Community 

No documentary holds any weight without the actual experts weighing in on the subject. In Search Of Darkness: Part II continues to hold onto the necessity of appealing contributors to its content as well as the volume of films that played a part in the 80’s evolution, big and small. The documentary expounds on a volume of films, returning to the vault for select additions absent from its predecessor as well as include foregoing titles in the mix this time.

Popular films like Suspiria, Creepshow, Puppet Master, Little Shop Of Horrors, Silent Night, Deadly Night, April Fools Day, Friday The 13th: Part II, Slumber Party Massacre, Terror Train, The Gate, Cannibal Holocaust, and Ghoulies among a countless list of many others are handpicked for the spotlights as well as smaller flicks like The Boogens, Alone In The Dark, The Beyond, The Entity, Faces Of Death, Vamp, Evilspeak, Murder Rock, Alligator, The Keep, Demons, Tenebre, Saturday The 14th, The Final Conflict, and more. In Search Of Darkness: Part II not only successfully sheds a bright light on fan familiars, but also goes deeper into the pit to draw out some of the more obscure films that deserve appreciation and recognition in one form or another. 

“In Search Of Darkness: Part II yet again supplies a credible ensemble of commentators that have engaging connections with the genre”

Diversity does not stop at the film titles as the follow-up sequel also delivers when it comes to the commentators. In Search Of Darkness: Part II, like Part I, welcomes back many key players of both 80’s horror and horror media of today. A variety of miscellaneous genre contributors, hosts, writers, and artists like Ryan Turek, Joe Bob Briggs, James Rolfe, Spencer Hickman, Greg Nicotero, Heather Wixon, James A. Jannisse, Michael Gingold, Cecil Trachenburg, Ben Scrivens, Henry Manfredini, Brendan Tenold, and Phil Nobile, Jr. offer comprehensible notes of the films, styles, and trends of the decade. Supplementing their takes, filmmakers like Don Mancini, John Carpenter, Joe Dante, Jackie Kong, Tom Holland, Sean S. Cunningham, André Gower, Lloyd Kaufman, Stuart Gordon, and Mick Garris detail involvement, inspirations, and amusing memories behind their productions and careers.

Stars like Heather Langenkamp, Keith David, Doug Bradley, Robert England, Geretta Geretta, Lori Cardille, Tom Atkins, Caroline Williams, Bill Moseley, Cassandra Peterson, Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, Clancy Brown, Gedde Watanabe, alongside too many others to list share their personal accounts, stories, and history within that period of horror that any fan of the genre will enjoy consuming. In Search Of Darkness: Part II yet again supplies a credible ensemble of commentators that have engaging connections with the genre and audiences alike, most importantly discussed through various perspectives. 

Totally 80’s

Any fan who dared brave the lengthy, but entertaining journey of In Search Of Darkness: A Journey Into Iconic ’80s Horror the first time surely wanted more from the historic time in horror cinema. In Search Of Darkness: Part II excellently captures that yearning and meets expectations. Expanding into foreign territories, voicing the unsung releases, and displaying it all in a quality presentation is what makes the documentary so easily digestible. From beginning to end, the documentary feels like a casual conversation composed of both fun and reliable reviews of the era and its respective films.

The clips from the films are perfect in proportion (no quick cuts, no shying away from gore) while the continuous dialogue holds both clear depths and leisure examinations. As the commentators invite viewers to mentally join the conversation about 80’s horror influence, we uncover even more about how the decade effected the filmmakers, the talents involved, the fans, and film as a whole. In Search Of Darkness: Part II is the sort of essential bites of media that affirms all that there is to love about 80’s horror films and all that there is to appreciate in their everlasting legacies.

“…affirms all that there is to love about 80’s horror films and all that there is to appreciate in their everlasting legacies.”

The only bad thing about In Search Of Darkness: Part II is that some way, somehow, you’ll still want more once it’s done. For now, you can watch the documentary’s second installment by visiting 80sHorrorDoc.com to take advantage of the limited-time flash sale, and catch the first part by streaming it on Shudder!

Are you a fan of In Search Of Darkness: A Journey Into Iconic ’80s Horror? What do you think about the sequel, In Search Of Darkness: Part II? What’s your favorite part of the documentary series? Let us know your thoughts over on Twitter, Reddit, or in the Horror Movie Fiend Club on Facebook!