In Search of Darkness – A Must See Horror Documentary Series

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Best Of Best of Movies Featured Horror Movie Reviews Scary Movies and Series

When I came across CreatorVC Studios’ In Search of Darkness (2019) and it’s sequel my mind instantly split itself into two warring factions. While one side revelled in the idea of two documentaries totalling around nine hours of in-depth exploration of 80s horror films, the other side focused more on the fact that it hadn’t hitherto sat through more than the ninety-or-so minutes of Blackfish (2013) or Jesus Camp (2006). To the latter side, this was an intimidating feat, though a pure love of the horror genre prevailed and to the joy and reconciliation of both sides I sat glued to the screen for the entire duration of both parts. 

A documentary this lengthy has to be informative and, equally as importantly, entertaining. In Search of Darkness: Part II (2021) boasts a wide array of guests from all corners of the horror world, some returning from Part 1, others seemingly jumping on board after its success. From pace-breaking spotlights on gore-effects legend Tom Savini to insights from the nightmare-mongering Robert Englund and the prolific Barbara Crampton to name a few, stories from backstage tidbits to production revelations lurk around every corner. A variety of perspectives are included on most matters ensuring diversity and political correctness throughout, along with some very interesting and thought-provoking takes on different events and (the many) controversies of 80s horror production. 

In search of Darkness Movie poster featuring a child watching 80s horror movies

While paying respectful tribute to the stars and the brains behind each picture, In Search Of Darkness 2 offers detailed, chronological and spoiler-free looks into a positive maelstrom of b-movies, video nasties, cult classics and creature features. The sheer volume of films I had previously glimpsed but never deemed worth my time, only to have In Search of Darkness instantly sell me on is astounding. Not only are films featured and referenced but they are explored equally on a social and ethical level, which is often surreal when such films as Cannibal Holocaust (1980) and Nightmare in a Damaged Brain (1981) are made subject. Not only did I, as expected, add many titles to my IMDB watchlist throughout, I also had my perspective widened on more than one occasion. 

In Search of Darkness Indiegogo Trailer

Creator VC Studios built this epic series through the use of crowd funding and fan support. VC studies are self described as. “An independent producer of community-powered entertainment: long-form factual content that is funded, inspired, and shaped by a dedicated community of fans.”

Everything about In Search of Darkness is packaged brilliantly, from it’s neon look to its atmospheric synth soundtrack that combine to draw viewers into the hyper-nostalgic glow of the 80s, perfectly embodying a full decade of filmmaking. All bases are covered, from the Italian ‘Giallo’ pictures of Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci to full dives into longer series such as A Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday 13th. Though rather than simply acting as a grisly encyclopedic list it treats viewers to several actor spotlights, squashings of undesirable misnomers such as the reductive ‘scream queen’ moniker and conversations into several of horror’s dirtier and more questionable past avenues. Where Part 1 began the discussion, Part 2 picks up right where it left off and proves that ‘more of the same’ is not always a bad thing. 

In Search of Darkness proves unequivocally that I need to make more time for documentaries; I only hope that others can summon the same electrical interest that these two did for me. One thing is for sure: other documentaries will have to wait for the extensive list of eighties horror movies I now have on my plate. 

In Search Of Darkness Part 3

In search of Darkness part 3 coming soon poster with a skeleton and dark graveyard imagery

Subscribe here to follow the 3rd films progress.

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Inuit Spirit of Death: The Keelut

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Featured Horror Books Horror Mystery and Lore Scary Movies and Series

What is the Keelut?

Aggressive Keelut, Inuit Spirit of Death
Photography by Nick Bolton

This creature is an Inuit legend, one who hunts people during the winter, but it’s not actually a predator in the strictest sense–it’s a spirit of the Netherworld. The Keelut (key-loot), also known as the Qiqirn (key-kern) is sometimes referenced as a spirit of death or an evil earth spirit. While it is actually a spirit, it takes the form of what some believe to be a true cryptid. To be honest, it’s hard to say which is a more frightening aspect of this creature, that it’s an immense, malevolent, black, hairless dog with the sole purpose of preying upon humans, or that it’s also a spirit so it doesn’t necessarily abide by the laws of physics. The Keelut’s mythological cousin is the Church Grim or Barguest of Great Britain, who stalks those traveling in the night which results in an untimely death.

The major difference between the Church Grim and the Keelut is the fact that the Keelut doesn’t have any hair, except for on its feet. They say that this makes their tracks in the snow disappear easily, which gives the advantage of stalking prey without being noticed. Aside from their predatory nature, these creatures have other similarities that transcend the separation of culture—both are known to act as a harbinger of death, and otherwise feast upon the dead. In Inuit folklore, the Keelut is known to attack lone travelers, the sight of one would cause disorientation, then eventually hypothermia and death.

Hold the Dark (2018): Bringing Alaskan Horror Legends to Life in a New Way

Hold the Dark Horror book featuring Keelut

This Alaskan creature of terror was made to take the sidelines in William Giraldi’s book Hold the Dark: A Novel (2014) and now a Netflix original film Hold the Dark (2018) when the residents of Keelut, a remote (fictional) Alaskan village, have been the unfortunate targets for a dangerous pack of wolves. These wolves have successfully taken three children before the main story takes place.  It’s certainly a spin to the original tale of the Keelut, but it pays special homage to the Inuit folklore wherein it was born.

While it certainly didn’t get rave reviews from this critic, I have a personal bias when it comes to films that include Alaska and the surrounding culture, even if it’s not terribly accurate.

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Is 30 Days of Night Based On a True Events?

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Scary Movies and Series

Is 30 Days of Night a True Story? Is It Real?

Just before its famous annual 30 days of straight night, vicious vampires intrude and take refuge in the snow surrounding and within the small town of Barrow, Alaska. Alaska has rich and scary lore. The dark and the snow make for a naturally scary environment that is FREEZING. And the blood thirsty intruders of the night absolutely thrive in the snow! What more could a horror fan want? Well, horror fans everywhere also want to know, is the movie 30 Days of Night based upon a real lore or not?

The Real Story Behind the Movie 30 Days of Night

There are many components which make up 30 Days of Night in its polished, released state, that can be  attributed to real-life occurrences and inspirations.  In fact, many elements can be traced to sources of origination that predate the film.  The two most notable realities that help create this feature horror flick are the movie’s setting and the story line itself.

Barrow, Alaska

Barrow is an American town in Alaska located more Northeastern than any other locale in the United States. In fact, it’s only a little more than a thousand miles away from the territory of the North Pole.  This town is unique alongside only a handful of other cities, worldwide, in that it experiences a phenomena known as “polar night.”  During polar night season, Barrow residents experience 60 days of straight nighttime.  That means no sun at all for almost 1500 hours straight!  There is a twilight effect, however, which provides some light and a pretty experience for a few hours each day, gradually decreasing until winter solstice, then increasing until the sun resurfaces.  Even in Barrow’s warmest, it’s still usually under 50 degrees Fahrenheit, making it one of the coldest places to live, ever!

Vampires and Stephen King’s ‘Salem’s Lot’

In 1975 Stephen King wrote a novel about a man who returns to a town in the cold state of Maine to find the residents all becoming vampires. The vampirism is contagious and is spreading faster than it can be contained. There are a lot of similarities in this novel, which later produced television-style movies and traditional feature films.  Probably one of the most notable parallels is the name of the head vampire in Salem’s Lot (Barlow), closely resembling the name of the head vampire in 30 Days of Night (Marlow). The head vampire dies in both films.  Admittedly, however, there is something creepy about the cold and snow at night.

Final Notes: 30 Days of Night

Although the movie is not completely based upon a real story, it is most certainly a very real fear for many people who actually live in the Alaskan town of Barrow.  And the small town most certainty the idea of vampires taking advantage of the polar night. It is also possible that the story got its true inspiration from Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot.  Regardless, 30 Days of Night features a stellar cast, an awesome production quality and leaves horror fans scared!

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Is Crystal Lake From Friday the 13th Real?

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Lifestyle Scary Movies and Series

Where Is The Real Crystal Lake Located?

Was Camp Crystal Lake a Real Place?

Almost every horror fan has known some experience in their life that somewhat resembles a “Camp Crystal Lake.”  Some have gone to actual summer camp. Others have stayed at a cabin with their family or friends. A day at the lake or camping in the woods is frequently considered a relaxing way to spend time over the summer…unless of course someone invited Jason Voorhees!  So, is there a real Camp Crystal Lake out there? Where is it located if so?

Horror Enthusiast went on a search to find the real Camp Crystal Lake

The Real Life Camp Crystal Lake

The truth is, there is no “real” Camp Crystal Lake, however, there is a filming location in the woods. And the filming location for the real Camp Crystal Lake, is an ACTUAL camp!  The real location for the Friday the 13th movies is Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco.  Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco is actually owned by the Boy Scouts of America. In northwestern New Jersey. 

Interestingly, despite the location being used for the original Friday the 13th movie (1980), it was not until recent years (2011), that the camp decided to open up to provide public tours.  Horror fans around the world were enthused when they realized they could actually visit the filming location of the original Friday the 13th movie.  So far, they have had 4 tours spread across 4 years, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. Each tour has been more successful and sold more tickets out faster than each previous tour.

The park itself is beautiful and what you would expect to find at a thriving Boy Scouts of America camp. Spanning almost 400 acres wide, and being surrounded by more recreation and land preservation  areas, Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco was the perfect filming location for the horror movie that has since been loved for decades by infinite fans.

Camp No Be Bo Sco sign the real location of Crystal Lake from Friday the 13th

Several sources claim that it is “Tomahawk Lake” in Sussex County, New Jersey.  This is incorrect. The Lake used in the Friday the 13th film is on site at Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco, and is actually called “Sand Pond.”  This can be further confirmed by checking out the  awesome store offered by the Boy Scouts of America on their Nobebosco.com storefront.  They sell some key evidence such as: “Angry Mother Lake” T-Shirts, “Angry Mother Lake” Tour Souvenirs, and even bottled sawmill shavings and lake water by the “Angry Mother Bottling Co.”.  Obviously, this is a reference to the original movie, which features Jason’s ‘angry mother’ as the killer. It is even possible top buy pieces of the log cabins used in the movie itself!

Final Words About Friday the 13th and Camp Crystal Lake

Jason Voorhees is one of the most famous and deadliest of all horror movie slashers. However, it is almost impossible to imagine Jason Voorhees anywhere besides his Camp Crystal Lake (with the exception of Jason X, aka ‘Jason in Space’). And while “Camp Crystal Lake” is technically a fictional location, the camp rented to produce the first Friday the 13th film is most certainly real. That all said, the horror fan tours that are always sold out at the REAL Camp Crystal Lake show a strong demand by the fan base to explore the lake property that created Jason Voorhees. These tours of Jason’s tomb will make it nearly impossible for him to rest in peace…thus, Horror Enthusiast can only assume Jason will be back!

Disclaimer: Do not show up at the Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco unless you have purchased tour tickets, as it is private property and they do not typically allow public access!

Do you love Camp Crystal Lake and Friday the 13th like we do? There are tons of fan materials made every year. Check Horror Hub Marketplace for the latest Friday the 13th fan merchandise.

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Is Final Destination Based On A True Story

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Scary Movies and Series

Are The Final Destination Movies About Real Stories?

The Final Destination movies are pretty insane in terms of “believability.”  Some of the deaths are simply down-right unlikely and of course the supernatural nature of the movies make them feel safer. Still, a lot of similar deaths have been documented. People around the world, have (unfortunately) suffered some pretty horrible fates that sound both, unlikely and unbelievable in nature. Some deaths are more like the plot in Final Destination, where a tragedy is side skirted one day, only to return another.  Some even involve actual plane crashes.  There are also real life deaths which have been extremely graphic, while also complicated…much like the movies.  In short, yes, Final Destination is possibly based on real events and many of these cases basically prove it!

Real Life Examples of Final Destination

There are some really crazy coincidences out there, and sometimes, they involve death! Like the popular Final Destination franchise, these deaths are very similar to the outrageous sequence of events many of the characters suffer throughout the movies.

Drowning in a Water Bowl

In 2001, a swimming coach tripped and fell on some concrete. The fall knocked him out and he slid down an icy sidewalk.  His face landed in his cat’s water bowl, which was barely full at all.  Still, the water was enough to cause him to asphyxiate and drown. Sadly, even a tiny bit of water is enough to take down the best of swimmers in the right conditions.

Wanted by Death

In 1977 Air Indiana Flight 216 crashed and there were no survivors. There was one single team member who was not on the flight, however, surviving the tragedy much like the Final Destination movie itself.  Unfortunately, however, he would only survive a couple weeks longer, his life being taken by a drunk driver along with his younger brother.

Ejected And Run Over

In 2013, Asiana Airlines crashed a Boeing 777 into the San Francisco International Airport runway.  The plane landing was bumpy, and exposed passengers to the open air, where 3 Chinese schoolgirls were thrown from the plane.  They were some of the only passengers without their seatbelts on.  While two of the girls died on impact, one survived only to be run over by one of the rescue vehicles rushing around the scene.

Destined to be Gunned Down

The interesting case of a famous sportscaster in 2012 showcases a woman who almost diverted death by bullet.  Jessica Redfield is recorded noting that she received a strange, eerie feeling that caused her to leave Eaton Centre Mall in Toronto, Canada. The mall was then shot up, deaths in the same food court she was just enjoying.  One month later, she died in the Aurora, Colorado movie theater shooting.

Spear Through The Eye

The year is 1999 and the location is Liverpool.  Unfortunately the rest of the story involves a physical education instructor and a javelin.  As the story goes…the instructor loses his balance on a high jump and the javelin strikes the eye and pierced the actual brain.  He died several days later after suffering both, a coma and a chest infection.

Surviving One Plane To Die On Another

One woman is recorded surviving the attacks of September 11th (on the World Trade Center in New York), only to suffer a strangly-related death shortly thereafter. Two months following the 9/11 attacks, Hilda Mayol died as a passenger of American Airlines Flight 587 when it crashed in New York.

The Exploding Lava Lamp

In the year 2004, in Washington state, a man in his mid-twenties decided to heat his lava lamp using the stove range, rather than the bulb it came with.  The result was a high-pressure bomb-like effect that caused the lava lamp to explode, sending tons of glass shards splintering the air.  Unfortunately, one of these shards punctured his heart and he died.

Death by Rescue

In 2013, Asiana Flight 214 crashed.  It was a terrible disaster, leaving 3 people dead and many injured.  Supposedly, one of the passengers who survived the incident was struck and killed by a rescue vehicle (fire truck), approaching the scene. It should be noted, however, that there are many conflicting stories and the official ruling several years later may argue she was already dead.  Still, so many people were convinced of seeing her alive before the vehicle approached, and thus the death seems very “Final Destination-like.”

Fire Hydrant From Hell

There is a recorded case in Oakland, California involving a large SUV plowing into a fire hydrant and turning it into a rocket.  This rocket was propelled by the insane water pressure in the hydrant finally being able to bust loose the hydrant.  In this case, the hydrant shot off and impacted the back of a man’s head, killing him instantly.  Supposedly, the fire hydrant still continued another 20 feet, even after striking the man’s skull.

Could Final Destination Happen In Real Life?

Final Destination movie scene on escalator with woman being saved by a man

With the large number of strangely similar deaths, it is very obvious that something like Final Destination could most certainly happen in real life. While the movies themselves were not based on true stories directly, they were most certainly inspired by unbelievable tragedy…and that is seen all the time! These deaths, however, are so close to the “level of craziness” depicted in the Final Destination deaths, that there is more than enough evidence to support real-life Final Destination-style dangers.  That said, it may be best to outfit your summer cottage with a few corks and fire extinguishers…because YOU JUST NEVER KNOW!

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