An American Werewolf In London - Review

John Landis is a director that most probably wouldn't immediately recognize (though they should), but his filmography consists of an array of well-known and well-received movies, some of which have even attained "classic" status. He is arguably best known for his comedic work in films like Animal House, The Blues Brothers, Trading Places, and others. That said, he's managed to receive a sort of "honorary designation" in the horror genre primarily for two different works. One, of course, is his directorial work in the legendary music video for Michael Jackson's Thriller. The other, is this film (which he also wrote), the horror/comedy An American Werewolf In London. For a filmmaker who was known for making comedies, this was a pretty dark departure from his usual shtick, but for all of the movie's horrific moments, it still manages to include some of Landis' trademark humor. So what we have here is a grotesque and bloody werewolf flick with quirky characters, witty dialogue, and one of the best werewolf movies ever made.

The film opens with American college students David Kessler and Jack Goodman (played by David Naughton and Griffin Dune respectively) in the Yorkshire Moors backpacking across Europe. As nightfall approaches (on a full moon), the two take refuge in a local pub filled with an eccentric and slightly paranoid crowd. Before leaving, David and Jack are warned to stay on the road and "beware the moon." While the pub-goers' warnings confuse the two men more than anything, the remarks are suddenly made clear when both are attacked by a vicious creature. Jack is killed but David survives with a few bites and scratches. After David wakes up in a London hospital weeks later, with most of his wounds steadily healing. Unfortunately, David is visited by the ghost of his buddy Jack, who informs him that he was bitten by a werewolf, and as a result, is doomed to transform into the same beastly creature the next full moon. Unaware of whether Jack's visit was in his head or truly supernatural, David ponders his fate as the full moon approaches...

An American Werewolf in London isn't, by any means, a perfect movie, but it is one that hits all the right notes. It's a movie that takes familiar plot points but puts an enjoyable spin on those archetypes. It pays homage to the classic werewolf movies of the past (namely the Universal monster movies of the 1930s while taking it in a different direction with it's sense of humor, updated special effects, and grotesque acts of violence. That's the main thing about this film, it's as funny as it is shocking, often changing it's tone at the drop of a hat. It usually doesn't have the creepy or atmospheric tension of classics like The Wolf Man, but instead goes for it's own distinct charm. One minute you'll be covering your eyes from the bloody monster mayhem while two seconds later you'll be laughing your ass off from some absurd situation. It's hard for a filmmaker to find that fine line between horror and comedy, but Landis' respect for both genres shows, and his direction hits a near-perfect balance of the two styles. The funny scenes have an assortment of perfectly timed jokes and lines reminiscent of his previous comedies (Animal House and The Blues Brothers) while his knack for horror has the tone of a grindhouse horror flick from the 70s. I also have to mention the amusing soundtrack, which features an array of songs chosen simply because they contained the word "moon" in their title. It's that sort of quirky humor that gives this film it's unique style. For this kind of film, that couldn't have worked much better.

While I can't personally say what this film is most remembered for, I think many who saw this probably have fond memories (or possibly traumatizing memories) of it's incredible special effects. Makeup and effects mastermind, Rick Baker, was the man behind these creatures in one of his finest accomplishments (considering his filmography, that's quite an achievement). There are some cool blood and gore effects, mainly involving the ghost of Jack, whose spiritual apparition slowly is slowly decomposing like a corpse. By far, however, his most impressive work in this has to be the werewolf itself, namely in the incredible transformation scene. While many werewolf movies of the past would obscure the Lycan in darkness, trees, or some other object during the transformation, In American Werewolf in London depicts it's sequence in a fully lit room with closeups of every painful and brutal detail. It's by far the greatest werewolf change sequence I've ever seen in a film and has yet to be outdone. As a matter of fact, Baker even won the first ever Oscar for best makeup for this film (a horror film winning an Oscar... that's something you don't see everyday). I will always maintain that the 80s really were the best time for practical movie effects. Special effects had peaked to a point where awesome looking creatures, beings, and deformities could be realized while digital effects still weren't quite convincing enough. It's too bad that CGI has overtaken Hollywood, as while it can be impressive, it often doesn't have the charm or mystery present in great practical effects like American Werewolf's. Oh well, at least we'll always have this movie.

The script, while clever, is kind of a mixed bag. John Landis apparently wrote this script when he was only 19, and his lack of experience kind of shows. As mentioned, it has a good premise and many enjoyable moments, but also throws in some pointless sub-plots and a rather abrupt ending. Not to mention, there are a few plot holes and inconsistencies that I couldn't help but notice. Some are pretty nitpicky while a couple are a bit more obvious. Ultimately the script, while flawed, benefits from some funny scenes, a few scary moments, and a talented cast and crew who provide the flick with it's delicate balance of thrills and fun. So while the movie has a few flaws (another of which is that the camera gets a little too shaky during the werewolf attack scenes), I was usually having such a fun time with it that I didn't really notice most of them until the flick was over. So while it's not perfect, the movie usually works when it needs to and delivers most of the goods.

So that's An American Werewolf in London... and I love it! There are many werewolf films to choose from in the pantheon of the horror genre, so if you're looking for a good one, this is definitely a solid choice. While it may or may not have you howling with screams or laughs, I give it a very high recommendation.

My Score: 4 out of 5!