In Search of Darkness: 1990 – 1994 – Film Review
Reviewed by Harris Dang on the 27th of January 2025
CreatorVC Studios presents a film by David A. Weiner
Written by David A. Weiner
Produced by David A. Weiner, Jessica Dwyer, and Heather Wixson
Starring John Carpenter, Heather Langenkamp, Joe Dante, Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, Keith David, Greg Nicotero, Bill Moseley, Caroline Williams, Kane Hodder, Sean S. Cunningham, and Tom Holland
Edited by Samuel Way
Music by Weary Pines
Running time: 264 minutes
Release Date: available now (order online)
The search of darkness continues on! After the thorough examination and proclamation of the horror genre in the decade of the 1980s, documentary filmmaker David A. Weiner is back once again, doing a deep dive into horror with In Search of Darkness: 1990 – 1994. But this time, he and his fellow interviewees are back with a whole new decade to explore and examine that is the 1990s. Will the documentary live up to the acclaim of the prior entries and deliver a stellar retrospective that is enlightening, entertaining, and self-deprecating?
Showing a more concise approach and not approaching the entire decade within one film, Weiner has focused on the first half of the 1990s, going from 1990 to 1994. This allows Weiner to examine more films within a tighter focus as well as allow more opportunities to delve into what makes the decade stand out in terms of how the horror genre is represented.
As the tagline for Scream 4 goes, “new decade, new rules”. The documentary explores how the decade of horror tried to branch away from the tried-and-true form of practical effects and went more into the digital age in terms of computer-generated imagery. Weiner and his interviewees correlate the emergence of CGI with the prescient fears of artificial intelligence in terms of how it could possibly restrict or aid creativity and the potential fears it can have in hindering artistic integrity.
On the other side of the spectrum, the film also explores how horror can be a gateway for new creatives and fans with the introduction of home video and the horror rise in television. Gateway shows, such as Are You Afraid of the Dark?, American Gothic, Tales from the Crypt, and Goosebumps introduced young audiences to the genre and also provided opportunities for up-and-coming filmmakers to thrive. Even established talents dabbled in the genre, including Arnold Schwarzenegger who directed an episode of Tales from the Crypt.
The film also dives into the classification of what makes a horror film belong in the genre. With various instances in what makes the film a horror film or a thriller due to depiction of violence, the choices in pacing or subject matter, the topic is compelling in its discussion when the film considers the rise in crime thrillers like The Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Se7en (1995). The inclusion of the film Natural Born Killers (1994) is certainly an example that exemplifies the argument. Which then leads to how the film explores the horror genre being more self-aware of its own origins, tropes and cliches; veering into downright comedy with films like Basket Case and especially Wes Craven’s New Nightmare, which can be seen as a precursor to the groundbreaking Scream films.
Continuing on from the previous films, the interview subjects are an absolute pleasure. The main standouts are the directors of films reflecting on their art like filmmaker Frank Henenlotter (who makes no surprises with his wonderfully acerbic recollections on his Basket Case films) or Jorg Buttgereit (who is a good sport going over his films that received a notorious reception, which led to him going to jail at one point). Tom Savini considers his experience making Night of the Living Dead (1990). He wanted to make zombies scary again and was affected by “slimy producers” and his impending divorce while making the film.
And we have the actors looking back fondly (and even incisively) on their work like Michael Gross (who looks back fondly on Tremors, having little expectation as to how much of a phenomenon it has become) to Jill Schoelen (who has mixed feelings on her film Popcorn as she only came on the film halfway through shooting due to changing directors, but nonetheless finds the film creative and appreciates the fandom).
As expected, the film ends on a teaser for the second half of the decade. If Weiner keeps the quality up, his examination on the 1990s could even eclipse the quality of the prior films. Overall, In Search of Darkness: 1990 – 1994 showcases the weird, wild world of 1990s horror in an illuminating, brisk and reverent way that is sure to please horror fans.
If you would like information on how to order the film, visit these links below:
https://creatorvc.gumroad.com/l/ISOD9094?layout=profile&recommended_by=discover
Summary: It showcases the weird, wild world of 1990s horror in an illuminating, brisk, and reverent way that is sure to please horror fans.
4
Impressive
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