From the creators of In Search of Darkness comes a new "superdoc" that explores 1980s sci-fi cinema. Here's what to know!
From the creators of the hit horror documentaries In Search of Darkness Part I & Part II (with Part III in the works) comes a new documentary focusing on sci-fi cinema of the 1980s. In Search of Tomorrow is a comprehensive look at genre franchises and films from the decade, such as Star Wars, Star Trek, RoboCop, Predator, Back to the Future, and more. With a massive cast of industry icons and a five-hour runtime, this "superdoc" won't be skimping on the details.
Writer-director David Weiner and executive producer Robin Block premiered In Search of Darkness Part I at Beyond Fest 2019. It was praised for its in-depth look at 1980s horror films and interesting behind-the-scenes details.
Its notable cast was jam-packed with genre legends, including Kane Hodder (Friday the 13th's Jason Voorhees), Doug Bradley (Hellraiser's Pinhead), The Last Drive-In's Joe Bob Briggs, filmmaker John Carpenter, and Elvira, Mistress of the Dark herself, Cassandra Peterson. Both In Search of Darkness Part I & Part II are available exclusively on the Shudder streaming service.
Now, let's take a look at what Weiner's new documentary has in store for sci-fi fans.
As mentioned, the film has a lengthy five-hour runtime, which is filled with a "year-by-year deep dive into the awe-inspiring film worlds of ‘80s sci-fi." Since the days of Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone and beyond, the genre has always reflected true-life events and warnings of what may befall humankind. In Search of Tomorrow goes deeper into how our favorite 1980s science fiction shows and films came to be and explores what was happening in pop culture and the world during the decade.
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The official synopsis for In Search of Tomorrow reads:
Breaking down the most popular and eccentric sci-fi titles of the ‘80s (theatrical and video store releases, from the Star Wars and Star Trek franchises to RoboCop, Aliens, The Road Warrior, MegaForce, Back to the Future, and Buckaroo Banzai), In Search of Tomorrow examines compelling insider tales of the creative process; the resonating themes of these imaginative stories; the technology behind the fiction, and their futuristic forecasts; the bold marketing of these films; and the political and Cold-War climate that impacted our entertainment.
In a statement, David Weiner describes In Search of Tomorrow as a sci-fi "love letter" and says:
“Grand stories of the imagination have always taken center stage in my life. As a teen in the ‘80s, I was at the perfect age to get lost in the big-budget blockbusters and straight-to-video fare that shaped perceptions and inspired creativity like no other. In Search of Tomorrow is an ambitious, nostalgic journey worthy of the amazing content and creators that came out of ‘80s Sci-Fi cinema. To craft a five-hour documentary/love letter devoted to territory that’s so close to my heart is the ultimate treat. An entertaining ride that mines never-before-heard tales from the creative minds who drove this influential decade of filmmaking, In Search of Tomorrow is a celebration of human challenge and potential, recontextualizing the films that not only were important to all of us, but changed our lives.”
As audiences saw in the In Search of Darkness films, David Weiner and Robin Block have a knack for bringing together an iconic cast, and In Search of Tomorrow further proves it. Talking about the Star Wars franchise is star Billy Dee Williams, Industrial Light & Magic's John Dykstra and Dennis Muren, and award-winning visual effects master Phil Tippett. Joining Tippett in reminiscing about everyone's favorite machine-man cop from Detroit is RoboCop himself, Peter Weller, along with Nancy Allen, Kurtwood Smith, and director Paul Verhoeven. On behalf of the Star Trek franchise, which got its initial start in 1965 with Gene Roddenberry's The Original Series, is writer-director Nicholas Meyer, director Adam Nimoy, and stars Walter Koenig and Wil Wheaton.
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Other featured interview subjects and cast include the late Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial star Dee Wallace, TRON star Bruce Boxleitner, Escape From New York and The Thing filmmaker John Carpenter, Predator and The Running Man star Jesse Ventura, Explorers and Innerspace director Joe Dante, The Road Warrior and Innerspace star Vernon Wells, Back to the Future writer Bob Gale, KISS rocker and Runaway star Gene Simmons, Buckaroo Banzai star Clancy Brown, Aliens star Carrie Henn, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure star Alex Winter, Blade Runner and DUNE (1984) star Sean Young, Flash Gordon star Sam J. Jones, Earth Girls Are Easy star Julie Brown, Flight of the Navigator star Joey Cramer, The Last Starfighter star Lance Guest, and Superman II star Sarah Douglas.
In Search of Tomorrow is available to stream exclusively from distributor and production company CreatorVC. Physical copies are also available for purchase, set to ship on August 20, 2022.
Melissa is an Associate Editor for MovieWeb and a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. She has served as an official film judge for the FEARnyc Horror Film Festival and Women in Horror Film Festival. Melissa enjoys covering annual film and pop culture events around the country, including SXSW, Tribeca Film, E3, PAX, Fantastic Fest, Dallas International Film Festival, and more.