I've made it rather well-known that I absolutely love the practical effects-laden horror flicks of the '80s! There's just something special about having everything appear in front of the camera, especially when it comes to monster flicks. Stan Winston's Pumpkinhead is a perfect example. The fact that the towering, vengeful demon was portrayed by Tom Woodruff Jr. and old-school puppetry brought so much more personality, charm and terror to the film. In my opinion, practical effects will always have reign over the faceless CGI we're force fed in Hollywood blockbusters these days.
Digressing, a new clip from the '80s horror documentary In Search of Darkness has been released featuring Woodruff Jr. and Ryan Turek reflecting on the classic creature feature.
Be sure to check out our previous coverage on the documentary if you'd like to see more!
"In Search of Darkness is the most complete retrospective documentary of the genre ever made. Featuring compelling critical takes, insider tales, and unheard anecdotes, this extraordinary documentary delivers a new perspective on the decade that gave rise to some of the horror genre’s greatest films and franchises."
Over its four-hour-plus runtime, In Search of Darkness features an incredible cast of 45+ contributors, including John Carpenter, Doug Bradley, Alex Winter, Tom Atkins, Jeffrey Combs, and so many more!
Directed by David A. Weiner, the documentary will also feature a number notable pop culture pundits and industry experts alike: Slipknot lead singer Corey Taylor, Joe Bob Briggs, Death Waltz Records' Spencer Hickman, Diana Prince (Darcy the Mail Girl from "The Last Drive-In"), and Katie Featherston (the Paranormal Activity series), to name a few.
It was recently revealed that a new special edition release of the film is up for grabs, which is available on Blu-ray or DVD, and includes a poster, enamel pin, postcard and an opportunity to be featured in the credits. The special package is only available for the month of October and will cost you $59.99.
Visit 80shorrordoc.com to pre-order with an expected November delivery.